MALBA Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Compare Latin American art within and beyond Buenos Aires's leading museum MALBA
From US$298 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • MALBA (Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires)
  • Coghlan Neighborhood
Photos & Highlights
  • Connect the dots between the traditional Latin American art and vibrant street culture of Buenos Aires
  • Led by an artist or art curator
Select a date
Tour Description
While Buenos Aires has long been a hub for traditional Latin American art, the city is currently awash in the vibrant hues and outspoken political protest of street art. Some of the city’s most talented artists have begun treating neighborhoods like open-air galleries, creating free-wheeling murals reflecting both the Argentine creative identity and propensity for political activism. During this 3-hour Buenos Aires Street Art tour led by an expert, we’ll not only explore some of Buenos Aires’ most vivid, thriving corridors for street art, but we’ll also visit MALBA, the city’s best collection of 20th century Latin American art, in order to track how Argentine visual art has progressed from the Belle Epoque to today.
Experts
Jonathan Jonathan
Local Guide
Santiago Santiago
Architect
Our walk begins at the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), a leading institution for modern Latin American art. Since its founding in 2001, MALBA has challenged Eurocentric art narratives, showcasing works by artists like Berni, Kahlo, Rivera, Xul Solar, and more. We’ll explore the museum’s history and dive into key pieces that establish a foundation for understanding Argentine contemporary art, preparing us to explore Buenos Aires’ vibrant street art scene.

Next, we’ll take a taxi to Coghlan, a historic neighborhood transformed into a street art hub thanks to its abundant blank walls. We’ll analyze the creation and ephemeral nature of street art, from spontaneous works to curated murals supported by local initiatives. A highlight is Pirovano Hospital, with its 550 meters of ever-changing murals that reflect shifts in style, politics, and society. We’ll wrap up by exploring the stories of artists—from renowned names to local schoolchildren—and the collaborative efforts between the community and city to make street art a living, evolving canvas.
At the conclusion of our Buenos Aires Street Art Tour, participants will have a deeper understanding of the Latin American perspective in art, from its foundations in the 20th century to today’s laissez-faire street art scene. We’ll discuss the alternative histories of Latin America versus European art history and the various meanings of urban art in Buenos Aires and beyond.
Do we need to purchase our own MALBA tickets? Included in the cost is your entrance ticket to MALBA and the taxi from MALBA to the neighborhood of Coghlan. 
Where You'll Start
(4.87) 22 Reviews

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I could not have asked for a better guide and experience with Santiago Fallon. He had a profound understanding of my needs and goals in the exploration of the MALBA. I consider myself well prepared in the areas of history, literature, and music having studied them throughout my university experiences. Art, on the other hand, I see a deficit in my preparation. Santiago made the "crash cause" fascinating, enjoyable, and tantalizing tough for me to want to explore Argentine history and art on my own. I would enthusiastically and wholeheartedly encourage a newcomer (as well as a veteran visitor) to the MALBA to seek out Santiago as a guide for this magnificent museum.
I don’t think MALBA needs 3 hours but the guide was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Excellent experience! Absolutely worth the money and really gave us insight into Argentinian art and the MALBA in general.