The museum in the Spanish city of Bilbao is one of the branches of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Contemporary Art. It is worth noting that the Guggenheim Foundation owns one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the world. Currently, the Foundation has three museums: in New York, Venice and Bilbao. A fourth museum is currently under construction in Abu Dhabi.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao opened relatively recently in 1997. It is located in a unique building designed by architect Frank Gehry. The futuristic structure is clad in titanium sheets with a total area of 24,000 square meters. It is recognized as one of the most spectacular in the world in the style of deconstructivism. According to the architect, this structure embodies the abstract idea of a spaceship, possibly for interplanetary travel. Because of its unusual appearance, the museum has also been compared to a bird, an airplane, an artichoke and a blooming rose.

Despite its short existence – only 22 years – the museum has managed to become a symbol of Bilbao and one of its highlights.

Inside the museum building is no less futuristic – in the center is a three-story high atrium, from which the curved petals of the halls depart. The permanent exhibition is located on the very top. The third floor is divided into several zones, each devoted to a different area of art.

The museum’s permanent exhibitions are dedicated to the art of the 20th century. Interestingly, the installations and electronic works outnumber the traditional paintings and sculptures.

The centerpiece of the museum is the “Essence of Time” series of sculptures by American sculptor Richard Serra. Eight enormous curvilinear sculptures, made of sheets of ship’s steel, occupy a huge room. They range from simple ellipses to spirals. The composition transforms, dividing and narrowing the space, guiding visitors along a curved trajectory to a complete dead end.

What to see: Surrealist, cubist, postmodernist and abstractionist paintings from the early to mid-twentieth century are on display here. These are works by Modigliani, Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky, Long, Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, de Kooning, and Francesco Clemente.

It’s worth mentioning that there are unusual art objects next to the museum that continue the fantastic theme of the building. These include a huge flower dog; tulips, unrecognizable at first sight, that look more like glass toys; a 9-meter spider; a sculpture “Tall Tree and Eye” that resembles a DNA chain.