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.

Malba: A Must
By Hun Ohm

If you stay in Recoleta, you will have easy access to a number of notable sights in Buenos Aires, including some of the more prominent art museums, and if you’re a fan of contemporary art, Malba (Museo Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires) is a hands-down must.

The Art
Sponsored by the art collector Eduardo Constantini, Malba opened in 2001 and has been a hit with locals and foreigners alike. The space is wonderfully airy, with contemporary lines highlighted by natural light that pours in from a wall of windows. We found the size of the galleries to be perfect—large enough for approximately 90 to 120 minutes of casual but focused viewing, but not nearly as overwhelming as, say, the MOMA in New York (which, don’t get me wrong, is a great museum but requires multiple visits to do it right). Anyway, we were also impressed by the breadth of Contantini’s collection. The main gallery on the second floor houses works by modern Latin American artists who were largely unfamiliar to us but whose works were strong and provocative. However, some of the larger three-dimensional installations were a little hit-or-miss.

There were also two special exhibits at Malba while we were there—an Andy Warhol film exhibit (the smoking man clip is particularly mesmerizing) and a fabulous Frank Stella "Moby Dick" print series on the top floor. If the Stella exhibit is still up when you visit, be sure to check out the film in the small room at the far end, which gives you a tantalizing peek at the numerous steps that go into making a print that the artist will sign.

The Café
Make sure that you don’t eat too much before taking a peek at the Malba collection, as there is a fine café attached to the ground floor. Take a seat in the sleek indoor setting or, if weather permits, dine al fresco on the small patio. The dishes are a notch above the standard museum fare and perfect for post-museum unwinding and planning your next stop in the city.

The Walk
If you’re staying in Recoleta and have some time, consider walking to Malba. Stroll along Avenida Libertador, bearing north until the avenue branches off into Avenida Figueroa Alcorta. Stay on this avenue, taking note (or a photo) of the enormous Floralis Generica metal sculpture in the Plaza Naciones Unidas, which blooms each morning with the sun and closes at sunset. Continue on and you will soon find yourself surrounded by some of the beautiful edifices of Palermo Chico. For the return trip, cut up away from the river to Avenida Libertador and then turn left to make your way back to Recoleta. Along the way, hit the numerous plazas to get a sense of why Buenos Aires is famous for its green parks. Beware: the orange rock path will cover your shoes in a fine yet stubborn dust.

Malba Details
Address: Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415
Admission: Seven pesos.
www.malba.org.ar