National Museum of Visual Arts

Here we are! Welcome to the National Museum of Visual Arts, the heart of plastic art in Uruguay. While we settle in at the entrance and enjoy this green environment so characteristic of Parque Rodó, let me tell you where we are standing and why this place is so magical. A trip through time: Our History Although this modern building you see—renovated by the famous architect Clorindo Testa in the 70s—feels very contemporary, the history of this collection began almost two centuries ago, back in 1838. However, as an independent institution, the museum was officially born on December 10, 1911. Curiously, it did not begin here, but in a wing of the legendary Solís Theater. Shortly after, he moved to this pavilion in the park, which went from being a simple construction to becoming the most important artistic infrastructure in the country. Today's heartbeat: Our Present Today, the museum houses an invaluable treasure: some 6,500 works. Here you will find the largest public collection of Uruguayan painting and sculpture, as well as magnificent international pieces. Walking through its rooms is to come face to face with the great national masters. We are going to see up close the vibrant textures of Rafael Barradas, the universal geometry of Joaquín Torres García and the expressive genius of Petrona Viera. Furthermore, it is a living space: there is always…

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