5 artsy places in Palma de Mallorca for art lovers
You’re going to Mallorca, yay! Most likely, all you want is beaches, sun, sangria and some tapas. Understandable. But hey, check the art scene in Mallorca.
Art in Mallorca? Yeah, shocker. Here I’m going to tell you about absolute must visit art places on the island — all in my (very subjective) opinion.
1.Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art
Start your art route here. It is the absolute leader among contemporary art institutions in Mallorca. You won’t miss it, as it hangs on the edge of a historic wall in the very heart of the old town area of Palma. It’s actually built right into the Baluard de Sant Pere, an old 16th-century fortress that used to be part of the massive stone walls protecting the city.
Opened in 2004, Es Baluard filled the void for contemporary art in Mallorca and became a beacon for the arts. The museum is relatively small, compared to other museums of contemporary art, — but there is a good side about it. The exhibitions are very well organised and displayed in a very clear logic.
Check out their permanent show and of course other temporary exhibitions which are always exceptionally well curated. What strikes me about Es Baluard, that such a small and humble museum hits such world-class standards of the art world, considering Mallorca is so often pigeonholed as just a holiday destination
2.Balazsi Gallery (formerly known as Tube Gallery)
In 2024, a young Swedish artist Axel Balaszi jumped ahead of his artist’s career and opened a gallery in a (very much so) ran down district of Palma Pere Garau. There is zero reason to walk in this neighbouthood, its shockingly dull and ugly. What he actually did there — a bright and ambitious art space that Mallorca has never seen before.
With his quality London art education and genetically inherited Nordic aesthetics he made an outstanding gallery that blends local and international approaches to the contemporary art scene. He has his own distinctive taste in art and every exhibition is carefully selected and curated. Take a look.
I have to add that in my opinion, Balazsi Gallery is a real gem among numerous art galleries in Mallorca whose motif is purely and undeniably commercial. Yes, Balazsi is also a commercial gallery, obviously, however it is led highly professionally with a big passion to Art with a capital A.
3.Red District. The Creative Hub (Gallery RED)
This isn’t a “district” in the traditional sense, don’t look for it on Google maps. It is the gallery opened by a business New Yorker and quickly has become so influential that the area around Plaza Frederic Chopin is now considered the beating heart of Palma’s contemporary art scene.
I remember this area very well before Gallery Red emerged in 2018. It was a cozy neighbourhood with some coffee shops and street musicians and a church.
Now it’s a chic, pretentious, upscale neighborhood. You’ll find plenty of design shops, trendy cafes, and loads of Basquiat’like art and other very trendy expensive artists that luxurious yacht A class owners adore. I’m not a particular fan of galleries like this, but I recommend it anyhow just to see the New York-ish piece of Palma in Mediterranean surroundings. Plus, most likely you will not be able avoid it whilst strolling the old town anyway.
4.Joan Miro Foundation
Now, let’s get back to the real deal. Spanish artist and sculptor Joan Miró (1893-1983) lived and worked in Mallorca for nearly 30 years. The foundation, this light and spacious place, served as a studio for him. Today it holds over 6 000 works of Miro. The building is a historic 18-century house, located near Marivent Palace (a King os Spain residence). It is known as Son Boter and basically is an old, traditional Mallorcan farmhouse.
Foundation also includes a modernist building designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Rafael Moneo and inaugurated in 1992.
Opened from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
5.Fun Art Club
Now it’s time to talk about where you can art by yourself. Fun Art Club is a studio that offers art classes which include pottery making, painting, jewelery making. They hold private events and group classes in English, German and French.
Check their schedule or contact them directly so they offer you something unique and tailored specially for you. Located in a very old town of Palma, the studio is very cozy and classy.
Carrer del Pes del Formatge, 3
