Born in Málaga in 1881, Picasso grew up in town, but spent most of his adult life elsewhere. In 1953, he said that he wanted his work to be exhibited in his hometown, but he died in 1973 before he could bring this to fruition. Thirty years after his death, the Picasso Museum Málaga was established, thereby making the elderly Picasso’s wish a reality. Visit the museum to see works and sketches by Picasso, a painter and sculptor who is considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time.
The museum is housed within the Palacio de Buenavista, a grand 16th-century structure in Málaga’s Old Town. Admire the approximately 300 works exhibited in the museum that span all eight decades of Picasso’s diverse career. Study Picasso’s preliminary sketches to see how his thoughts developed as he approached experimental abstract works like his cubist portraits.
From his earliest juvenilia to the final works Picasso painted in the 1970s, the museum offers a comprehensive portrait of the artist’s career. Check out Picasso’s work with other media, including sculpture, ceramic and etching. Once you have toured the entire museum, one thing will be obvious to you: no matter what Picasso touched, he made it his own.
On the way out, browse the art history books in the Picasso Museum Library and Bookshop. Then, have a regional delight or a glass of Andalusian wine at the Picasso Museum Café.
The Picasso Museum Málaga lies just north of the Málaga Cathedral in the heart of Old Town. Arrive at the Paseo del Parque by bus, then walk north. Outside of Mondays, the museum is open daily. Pay a small admission fee to enter, or else visit on Sunday when the museum is free. If you’d like to learn more about Picasso’s life in Málaga, head a few blocks north to Picasso’s Birthplace.
