It’s surprising to learn that the elegant Reina Sofía National Art Museum in Madrid was originally built as a general hospital. Designed in the 18th century by architect Francesco Sabatini under the direction of King Charles III, the building today ranks among the world’s leading contemporary art museums. Its permanent collection features major names such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and María Blanchard, along with works by Nonell, Anglada Camarasa and Solana. One of the museum’s most celebrated pieces is Picasso’s Guernica, displayed in a setting that highlights its historical and artistic significance.
Expanded in 2005 with new galleries and updated facilities, the museum now occupies three interconnected buildings. It includes a humanities library and two auditoriums seating approximately 200 and 500 people, which support lectures, film screenings and performance events. The ground-floor Espacio UNO presents rotating projects by new and emerging artists, offering visitors an opportunity to discover fresh voices in contemporary art.
Temporary exhibitions take place across the complex, including in the Velázquez Palace and the Crystal Palace. One notable past exhibition was “Dorothea Tanning: Behind the Door, Another Invisible Door,” which ran through January 7, 2019. Tanning is considered one of the most inventive and versatile artists of the 20th century; her oeuvre spans painting and drawing as well as costume and set design for ballet. The exhibition organized her works into thematic rooms that trace different phases of her career and emphasize the intimate, often dreamlike narratives that recur throughout her practice.