The Fundació Tàpies, or Tàpies Foundation, is a museum dedicated to modern art in Barcelona's Eixample. Housed in a late 19th Century modernist building by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the museum is a showcase of the work of the Spanish artist, Antoni Tàpies.
See also:
Tàpies Foundation - The Building
The building itself was one of the first of the Catalan moderniste ouevre, an early project of Lluís Domènech i Montaner's. It was completed in 1885, surpising contemporaries with its use of uncovered iron and brick, and served as the headquarters of a publishing house. It was restored by Roser Amado and Lluís Domènech Girbau for its re-opening as the Fundació Tàpies in 1990.
Antoni Tàpies
There's an introduction to the work of Tàpies before you enter the museum. Look up at the roof of the building and you'll see a tangled mesh of wire crowning Domènech's brick facade. It's one of the Catalan artist's sculptures.
Born in Barcelona in 1923, Tàpies first received attention as a participant in the poist-World War II Dau-al-Set movement, which drew upon surrealism and dadaism. It was in his mixed media period from the 1950s onwards however, incorporating clay, marble dust and rags into his paintings, when he achieved recognition as one of Europe's most important artists. This informal style of painting he called pintura matèrica.
A vast amount of work on display has been donated by the man himself, but there are also exhibitions showing other contemporary artists. There's also a library, a shop, and a programme of seminars and lectures about modern art.
Essential Information
Address: Aragó 255, 08007, Barcelona
Telephone: 934 870 315
Website: www.fundaciotapies.org
How to Get there: Antoni Tàpies Foundation is a five minute walk from Passeig de Gràcia Metro station (yellow, purple and green lines).
Getting To Barcelona: Barcelona is served by Barcelona El Prat Airport, and Renfe trains connect from all other major Spanish cities to Sants Estaciò.