An extraordinary all-white, glass-fronted creation by American architect Richard Meier, opened in 1995, the MACBA is the city's foremost contemporary art center, with captivating exhibitions for the serious art lover. The permanent collection is dedicated to Spanish and Catalan art from the 1960s to the present day, with works by Antoni Tàpies, Joan Brossa, Miquel Barceló, Eduardo Chillida, Mari Chordà, Joan Rabascall and Concha Jerez. International artists, such as Paul Klee, Bruce Nauman, Alexander Calder, John Cage and Jean-Michel Basquiat, are also represented.
The MACBA philosophy is to do away with the old model of a museum where an artwork is a spectacle and to create a space where art can be viewed critically, so visiting exhibitions are usually tied in with talks and events. The library and auditorium stage regular concerts, talks and events, all of which are either reasonably priced or free. The extensive art bookshop is fantastic for both stocking up on art and art theory books, as well as quirky gifts and small design objects. Outside, Plaça dels Ángels is one of Europe’s greatest skateboard locations.
