Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Castilla y León (MUSAC), located in León, is an emblematic example of how contemporary art can interact with modern architecture and the public. Inaugurated in 2005, MUSAC quickly became a point of reference not only for the city of León, but for the entire Spanish and European cultural scene. The idea behind the museum, as explained by its initial curator Agustín Pérez Rubio, is to be a “Museum of the Present”, collecting artworks created between 1992 and 2012, a period of great political and social changes that deeply influenced the art world. The architecture of MUSAC is a work of art in itself. Designed by Spanish architects Emilio Tuñón and Luis Moreno Mansilla, the building won the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award in 2007. Its multicolored facade is inspired by the stained glass windows of the Gothic cathedral of León, creating a play of lights and colors that recalls the city’s historical past while maintaining a decidedly contemporary aesthetic. This bold and innovative design has made MUSAC a symbol of modernity and cultural openness, integrating perfectly into the urban fabric of León. The MUSAC collection consists of over 1,000 works by 426 artists, both local and international. This vast repertoire reflects the diversity of contemporary artistic practices, ranging from video installations to photography, from painting to sculpture. The museum stands out for its ability to highlight the contradictions and challenges of the contemporary world, offering the public an immersive and provocative experience.