Museo del Barro
Asunción
Museo del Barro, located on the outskirts of Asunción, Paraguay, is a prominent cultural institution dedicated to preserving and exhibiting indigenous pottery, folk arts, and contemporary Latin American art. Founded in 1979 by Olga Blinder and Carlos Colombino, it originated as a private traveling collection before settling into a permanent home. The museum is divided into three main sections: a pottery museum featuring over 300 pre-Columbian ceramics; an indigenous art museum housing approximately 1,700 ethnographic pieces including baskets, masks, featherwork, and textiles representing Paraguay's diverse ethnic groups; and a contemporary art collection with around 3,000 works by Paraguayan and Latin American artists such as Livio Abramo and Olga Blinder. The collection spans from the 17th century to the present, showcasing wood, fabric, metalwork, paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and mixed media. The museum also includes a shop offering traditional crafts from local communities and a specialized library supporting research and cultural dialogue. Its unique integration of historical and modern art forms makes it an essential destination for understanding Paraguay's cultural heritage and artistic evolution.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to allocate sufficient time to explore all three divisions thoroughly. The museum's location on the outskirts of Asunción makes morning visits ideal to avoid crowds and maximize daylight. Tickets can be purchased on-site, but checking the official website for current opening hours and special exhibitions is recommended. The museum shop offers authentic local crafts, and visitors interested in Paraguayan culture may benefit from attending seminars or talks hosted by the museum for deeper insights.
Interesting facts
- •The museum's name, 'Museo del Barro,' means 'Museum of Clay,' highlighting its significant collection of indigenous pottery.
- •It houses the only permanent collection of contemporary Paraguayan painting, drawing, printmaking, installation, and sculpture.
- •The collection includes works by prominent Latin American artists such as Livio Abramo and Olga Blinder.
- •The museum also functions as a cultural research center, hosting seminars that bridge disciplines rarely connected in Paraguay.
- •Its pottery collection features over 300 pre-Columbian ceramic pieces, one of the largest in the region.
History
Museo del Barro was founded in 1979 as a private institution by artists Olga Blinder and Carlos Colombino, initially to house a circulating collection of prints and drawings.
Over seven years, the collection expanded from traveling exhibits to a permanent museum.
Originally located in San Lorenzo, it relocated to Asunción's outskirts due to expansion needs and natural disasters.
The museum's core mission has been to preserve indigenous pottery, folk art, and contemporary art from Paraguay and Latin America, growing its collection to over 4,000 pieces spanning from the 17th century to today.
Place Guide
Pottery Museum
This section contains over 300 pieces of pre-Columbian ceramics, showcasing the traditional clay craftsmanship of indigenous Paraguayan cultures.
Indigenous Art Museum17th century onwards
Featuring approximately 1,700 items such as baskets, masks, featherwork, and textiles, this division represents the artistic expressions of Paraguay's various ethnic groups from the 17th century to present.
Contemporary Art Collection
This division exhibits about 3,000 works by contemporary artists from Paraguay and Latin America, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and mixed media.
Museum Shop - El almacén de doña Estela
Offers original popular ceramics from Itá and Tobatí, Aché basketry, popular imagery, textiles from Carapeguá, Itauguá and Yataity, and feather art from the Tomaraho community.
Seminar Space - Espacio/Crítica
A research and discussion center within the museum that fosters interdisciplinary study and critical writing on Paraguayan artistic and cultural topics.
Contact
Phone: (021) 607 996