Art on Mallorca - exploring the work on display at private foundations and in public spaces

Light plays a pivotal role in Mallorca’s cultural identity. It was this exceptional luminosity that attracted artists such as Anglada Camarasa, Eliseu Meifrèn and Mexican muralist Roberto Montenegro at the beginning of the 20th century. As yet untouched by tourism, the island was a pristine, even romantic destination, and its coastline and landscape became the subject of intense artistic exploration.  

Joan Miró is perhaps the first artist to combine a prolonged period of residence with the desire to open a publicly accessible space to exhibit art on Mallorca. He lived in Cala Major from 1956 until his death in 1983. This is where he established his studios Son Boter and Sert, and it’s also home to the foundation that bears his name. Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró houses an extensive collection of important works by the artist in the Edificio Moneo, a building designed by Rafael Moneo in the 1990s.  Miró’s studios, especially the one built by architect Josep Lluis Sert – then Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design – reflect his close relationship with the island’s landscape and colours. The star-shaped section of the Edificio Moneo, on the other hand, has recently hosted temporary exhibitions by young Mallorcan artists such as Biel Llinàs and Grip Face, linking Miró’s legacy to the contemporary art scene.  

The next unmissable stop in this exploration of Mallorca’s diverse range of cultural institutions is arguably the most important museum of contemporary art on the island. Currently under the direction of David Barro, Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani houses pieces from the Col.lecció d’Art Serra, which was assembled by journalist, publisher and entrepreneur Pere Serra. Over the years, curators including Agustín Pérez Rubio and Pedro G. Romero have helped shape Es Baluard’s identity by showcasing important works by both Mallorcan and international artists. Jannis Kounellis and Ana Laura Aláez are among the notable names to have featured in solo exhibitions. With its rich programme, Es Baluard Museu has become a fertile seedbed for the island’s art scene. Nachleben, the recent three-part cycle curated by David Barro, examines how the enduring power of the painting allows this medium to transcend different eras. 

Another centre for contemporary art that should not be overlooked when visiting Palma is Casal Solleric, formerly an opulent mansion with Italianate influences, combining elements of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Under the direction of Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta, the venue has hosted solo exhibitions by Ángela de la Cruz and Concha Jerez, among others, as well as group shows like “Ultrafotografía”, featuring local artists. An annual fixture in Casal Solleric’s calendar is the showcase of finalists for the Ciutat de Palma Awards, which offers an incisive snapshot of developments in the young art scene. Just a few steps away is the Casal Balaguer, another former grand residence, whose ground floor now houses an exhibition space. In 2024, it presented a selection of works created on the island by German artist Wolf Vostell, including sketches for a monumental sculpture of a crashing aeroplane, which the artist intended to install close to Palma airport as a critique of the impact of mass tourism (a plan that was ultimately not realised). 

Also within easy walking distance is the 17th-century palace that is now home to Fundación Juan March, established by business magnate and banker Juan March Ordinas. Originally dominated by prominent figures in the Spanish abstract art movement, such as Fernando Zóbel and Pablo Palazuelo, the museum is now undergoing a sensitive modernisation of its programme under the stewardship of Pablo Pérez d’Ors. In addition to the permanent exhibition featuring pieces by Eduardo Chillida, Salvador Dalí and Antoni Tàpies, recent projects have included solo exhibitions by photographer Cristina García Rodero and a comprehensive retrospective on José María Yturralde. A collection of sculptures comprising works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and other artists is on display at Palau March, another palatial home built by Juan March near the cathedral. The building’s interiors are also particularly noteworthy, with murals by Josep Maria Sert adorning the walls and ceiling of the music room, for example. 

A visit to the Museu de Mallorca is another must, especially for lovers of art from earlier eras. Its impressive collection of Gothic paintings attests to the high regard in which Mallorcan workshops were held throughout the Mediterranean region in the Middle Ages. The Baroque period and the 19th century are likewise extensively represented, each with dedicated galleries. However, the museum also regularly opens its doors to contemporary art. For example, an exhibition of work by Bernardí Roig was held here in September 2025. In it, the Mallorcan artist imagined the return of the Bous de Costitx (Costitx Bulls), important archaeological finds from the island that are currently kept at Spain’s National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. Roig had previously exhibited at the Bienal B, a project organised by Es Baluard in collaboration with the Consell de Mallorca, the island’s local governing body.  

It is evident, even from this brief overview, that Palma’s relationship with art is authentic and deeply rooted in history. And its wealth of private exhibition venues and galleries – including those affiliated with the Art Palma Contemporani gallery association – are not the only places where this love affair with the arts can be witnessed today. For instance, an eclectic array of sculptures scattered across the city’s public spaces features pieces by renowned Spanish and Mallorcan artists such as Eduardo Chillida and Albert Pinya, as well as international luminaries like Dennis Oppenheim. Art and culture are a lived reality in Palma, open to all. It’s a fact that can also be seen and experienced at the diverse cultural events that take place throughout the year, not least the famous Atlàntida Mallorca Film Festival and the Festival Paco de Lucía Mallorca, now a national showcase for flamenco, named in honour of one of the genre’s foremost guitarists who made the island his second home.