The major collection of leading 20th-century Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies (who died aged 88 in 2012) is also a pioneering 1880s Modernista building, designed by Domènech i Montaner for publishers Editorial Montaner i Simón. Known for his esoteric work, Tàpies left behind over 2000 powerful paintings and a foundation intended to promote contemporary artists. The building combines a brick-covered iron frame with Islamic-inspired decoration, all crowned by Tàpies' installation Núvol i Cadira (Cloud and Chair).
Although it's difficult to understand the art of Antoni Tàpies, in his work he expressed a number of themes, such as left-wing politics and humanitarianism; the practices of Zen meditation and its relationship between nature and insight; incarnation as seen in Christian faith; and art as alchemy or magic.
He launched the Fundació in 1984 to promote contemporary art, donating a large part of his own work. The collection spans the arc of Tàpies’ creations and contributions from other contemporary artists. In the two main exhibition areas you can see an ever-changing selection of around 20 Tàpies works, from early 1940s self-portraits to grand items like Jersei negre (Black Jumper; 2008). Rotating exhibitions take place in the basement levels.