The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, more commonly referred to as the MALBA, houses, as its name suggests, 20th century and contemporary art from all over Latin America. Created under the initiative of the industrialist and Argentine collector Eduardo F. Constantini, the museum is the first of its kind in Argentina, and seeks to be the world’s preeminent museum of Latin American art. There are several large exhibition spaces, and the permanent collection of nearly 300 works, includes masterpieces by the likes of Diego Rivera, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Argentinean Zul Solar, Chilean surrealist painter Roberto Matta, and Antonio Berni.

The MALBA opened in 2001, and is the only museum in Buenos Aires to be housed in structure designed specifically for that purpose. Born out of a competition in 1997, the winning design was the work of three young Argentinean architects. The contemporary structure features an interior with a large, glass-topped atrium, a restaurant and gift shop on the first floor, and large, open exhibition spaces on the two upper floors.

The museum’s niche is its coverage of the collaboration between Latin-American and European artists that took hold in the first half of the 20th century, when many Latin-American artists traveled to Europe and were exposed to cubism, expressionism, and other European styles of the day. When they returned to the Americas, a fusion of their own styles and their interpretations of what they’d seen in Europe took their art in new directions.

Although diminutive in size, the MALBA’s collection contains a few brilliant masterpieces which are prominently displayed. Among these are Diego Rivera’s Portrait of Ramón Gómez de la Serna, and his wife, Frida Khalo’s Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot.

With only 270+ pieces in the permanent collection, the MALBA leaves one wanting more, but, having said that, it’s exciting to think about what this museum could become a decade or two from now. In the meantime, there is ample space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Today, the masterpieces by Rivera, Kahlo, and Argentinean hero Zul Solar make the MALBA worthy of a visit.

Along with the nearby Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and Cementerio de la Recoleta, the MALBA completes a triumvirate of Buenos Aires attractions that make up a nice half-day itinerary for the first-time visitor to Buenos Aires. And be sure to check out some of the spectacular architecture of the nearby embassy buildings, including the Brazilian and French embassies.

Additional information:

Hours: Thu-Mon 12:00-20:00; Wed: 12:00-9:00; Closed Tue

Tel: 4808.6500

Admission: 10 pesos (US$3.25). Free on Wednesdays. Students free with ID.