The Museum of Modern Art (MAM) is located in the northeast of Flamengo Park. The museum is one of the most important cultural institutions in the city. The building in which the museum is located is the work of Brazilian architect Affons Eduardo Reidy. Considering that it is located in a park, the building blends in nicely with the environment. The museum was launched in 1948, at the initiative of a group of businessmen chaired by Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maia. They had a desire to gather the works of art of Brazil in one place and to start a "cultural revolution" because they thought that the number of exhibition spaces and museums in general in Rio at that time was small.
Since its inception, the museum has managed to collect an impressive collection of modern art - but unfortunately most of the works of art were destroyed in the tragic fire that occurred in 1978. Today, the museum collection has approximately 15.000 works. Industrialization in Brazil has led to direct private sector interference in the progress of culture in the country. While Europe was hit by a severe crisis during and after World War II, Brazil was moving forward. Numerous industrialists used their own capital to buy works of art on the art market. They had a desire to fill a cultural void that by no means belonged to Brazil.
The museum was established in 1951, and the following year it was temporarily housed in the Palace of Culture. In December 1952, the City Council approved the proposed allocation of 40.000 m2 of land for this institution. However, in 1958, the museum was moved to another location. The new exhibition building was ceremoniously opened in 1963.
The collection of the Museum of Modern Art consists of 15.000 works of art, including sculptures, paintings, photographs, drawings and installations. The museum houses, on loan, the Gilberto Chateaubriand collection - one of the most extensive collections of Brazilian art as well as a collection of photographs by Joaquim Paiva.
Ticket price for the Museum of Modern Art
Regular ticket price 20 BRL
Reduced ticket price: 10 BRL - for pensioners, students and children
Working hours of the Museum of Modern Art
Thursdays and Fridays from 1 pm to 6 pm
Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm
