Modern Masters Barcelona

Andy Warhol – Pop Art and the Art Market

After Andy Warhol’s arrival on the New York scene in 1949, he became obsessed with consumerism, the cult of celebrity, commodity, and pop culture – themes that led to the birth of Pop Art.

The King of Pop Art knew that money made the world go ‘round, and not only did he flirt with this idea, but he made passionate love to it! Although Andy Warhol came from a working-class family, he built an entire artistic career around commercial obsession. Moco Museum Barcelona welcomes the Pop Art Master for his lasting impact on culture and our world.

Warhol initially pursued a career as a commercial artist before redefining visual arts with iconic works like the Campbell’s Soup Cans and Marilyn Diptych. He managed to turn his New York studio, The Factory, into a hub of celebrity portraits, performance art, and multimedia events like the Exploding Plastic Inevitable – a series of multimedia ‘happenings’ organised by Warhol.

His television series Andy Warhol’s TV and Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes blurred the lines between fine art and popular culture. Warhol expressed his fascination with everyday life, fame, and death through pictorial design, documentary films, and portrait commissions of figures like Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.

Today, the Andy Warhol Foundation supports artistic expression globally, while the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist – the Andy Warhol Museum in his native city Pittsburgh – preserves his extensive permanent collection.

Jean-Michel Basquiat – Self Portraits from the Streets to Galleries

When Basquiat first started selling his work and making money, he felt like a superhero. In 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat art transitioned from the streets to top-tier galleries. New York was a mecca for the arts, and he was at the center of it!

As an artist, Basquiat always had a unique way of representing his surroundings. His paintings used an assemblage of symbols and clues to examine power structures, race, and identity.

Though he painted professionally for only 7 years until his death in 1988 at the age of 27, Basquiat’s work remains a vital part of the art world. Numerous books, exhibitions, and record-breaking auction sales keep his legacy alive.

Now, you can come face to face with Basquiat in Barcelona at Moco Museum. 

“Royalty, heroism and the streets.” – Jean-Michel Basquiat

Keith Haring – Popular Culture and Artistic Expression

Whether you were walking down the street, changing trains, or dancing until sunrise, bold drawings declared: Keith Haring was here! Now, Keith Haring is in Barcelona at Moco Museum.

The Modern Master created icons that are now synonymous with his name: the Radiant Baby, Dancing Man, Bat Demon, and Angel. Haring’s art transcended the walls of art galleries and became part of public space.

His works explored themes of unity, love, and activism, making him an influential and controversial artist of his time. Haring’s pieces now live in museums, city walls, and in the hearts of art lovers across the world.

Yayoi Kusama – Infinity, Dots, and the Power of Repetition

The Polka Dot Princess spent most of her time in nature where she had many hallucinations that she would describe as “dense fields of dots.” Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin and polka dot works are a direct result from her lifelong obsessions with the subjects.

In Barcelona, Yayoi Kusama takes center stage at Moco Museum with a celebration of her iconic polka dot theme, a part of her infinity nets series. Kusama is one of the most important living artists today, whose contemporary and modern works bridge avant-garde, minimalism, and surrealism.

Yayoi Kusama quotes: “As I repeated this process over and over again, the nets began to expand to infinity. I forgot about myself as they enveloped me, clinging to my arms and legs and clothes and filling the room.”

Salvador Dalí – Surrealism and the Spanish Master

The Spanish painter and genius, Salvador Dalí was the leading figure in Surrealism. Not just an artist, he was a celebrity.

Famous for paintings like The Persistence of Memory and sculptures such as Woman Aflame, Dalí explored themes of time, identity, and the unconscious. At Moco Museum Barcelona, Salvador Dalí takes the spotlight with Woman Aflame, a monumental sculpture reflecting beauty, secrets, and desire.

Legacy of the Masters: Their Impact on the Art Market and Beyond

From the East Village to the halls of the Carnegie Institute, the legacy of these modern artists is undeniable. As performance art, photography, painting, and sculpture evolve, their influence remains foundational.

These masters of modern art continue to shape the art market, inspire contemporary voices, and attract wealthy patrons and distinguished intellectuals alike.

Not all artworks are always on display.

Our collection exhibits artwork on loan and from the Moco Collection. We keep our exhibitions ever-evolving, so every visit is a fresh experience. Occasionally, this means some artworks online are not always on view in the museum. We appreciate your understanding.