Explore the best of 20th-century Brazilian art and sample cutting-edge Brazilian cuisine at this bold 1950s modernist gallery on the edge of Rio’s Guanabara Bay.
See works by some of Rio de Janeiro’s and Brazil’s most famous 20th-century artists in the Museum of Modern Art (MAM). Located inside a building designed by a Brazilian modernist architect and exhibiting works from one of Brazil’s largest art collections, the MAM is one of the most prized museums in the country. After visiting the museum, explore the surrounding Flamengo Park, the largest park in Rio.
Before starting your gallery tour, take the time to admire the MAM structure, designed in the 1950s by Brazilian architect Afonso Reidy. Climb the concrete spiral staircase into the museum’s interior. The permanent exhibition is titled Genealogies of the Contemporary. It highlights the history of Brazilian art since the 1920s. Here, you will find pieces from the extensive Gilberto Chateaubriand collection. Famous Brazilian artists like Maria Martins, Di Cavalcanti and Cândido Portinari are on display beside European modernists like Alberto Giacometti and Fernand Léger.
Visit the MAM at the end of the year to see an annual exhibition of the winners of Brazil’s Professional Art Investor Award (PIPA). See exciting contemporary works chosen by art industry professionals and by popular vote.
If you enjoy the culinary arts, make a reservation at the MAM’s renowned restaurant, Laguiole. Enjoy contemporary Brazilian cuisine and peruse the expansive wine list, which features over 8,000 different bottles.
Take a walk through Flamengo Park, where the museum is situated. Spread over 300 acres (121 hectares) along the edge of Guanabara Bay, this is Rio’s largest park. Cool off in the water at Botafogo Beach to the south or watch locals fly remote controlled airplanes in one of the park’s open areas.
Rio’s Museum of Modern Art is open Tuesday through Sunday every week. There is a fee to enter. A metro stop is located just a short walk to the northwest. There is paid on-site parking at the museum for those arriving by car.
