MALBA Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Compare Latin American art within and beyond Buenos Aires's leading museum MALBA

The Finer Details
While Buenos Aires has long been a hub for traditional Latin American art, the city is currently awash in the vibrant hues and outspoken political protest of street art. Some of the city’s most talented artists have begun treating neighborhoods like open-air galleries, creating free-wheeling murals reflecting both the Argentine creative identity and propensity for political activism. During this 3-hour Buenos Aires Street Art tour led by an expert, we’ll not only explore some of Buenos Aires’ most vivid, thriving corridors for street art, but we’ll also visit MALBA, the city’s best collection of 20th-century Latin American art, to track how Argentine visual art has progressed from the Belle Epoque to today.

Tour Itinerary

Our walk begins at the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), a leading institution for modern Latin American art. Since its founding in 2001, MALBA has challenged Eurocentric art narratives, showcasing works by artists like Berni, Kahlo, Rivera, Xul Solar, and more. We’ll explore the museum’s history and dive into key pieces that establish a foundation for understanding Argentine contemporary art, preparing us to explore Buenos Aires’ vibrant street art scene.

Next, we’ll take a taxi to Coghlan, a historic neighborhood transformed into a street art hub thanks to its abundant blank walls. We’ll analyze the creation and ephemeral nature of street art, from spontaneous works to curated murals supported by local initiatives. A highlight is Pirovano Hospital, with its 550 meters of ever-changing murals that reflect shifts in style, politics, and society. We’ll wrap up by exploring the stories of artists—from renowned names to local schoolchildren—and the collaborative efforts between the community and city to make street art a living, evolving canvas.

Take Aways

At the conclusion of our Buenos Aires Street Art Tour, participants will have a deeper understanding of the Latin American perspective in art, from its foundations in the 20th century to today’s laissez-faire street art scene. We’ll discuss the alternative histories of Latin America versus European art history and the various meanings of urban art in Buenos Aires and beyond.

FAQ

Do we need to purchase our own MALBA tickets? Included in the cost is your entrance ticket to MALBA and the taxi from MALBA to the neighborhood of Coghlan. 
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Where You’ll Go

From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.

  • MALBA (Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires)
  • Coghlan Neighborhood
What’s Included As Standard
Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.
Included
  • English-speaking expert guide
    Tours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
  • Intentionally sized groups
    A smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
  • Tickets and entrance fees
    All entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
  • Headsets
    Headsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
    We encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
  • Food and drink
    Refreshments are only included during a tour when clearly noted.
  • Transportation to and from the meeting point
    Guests organize pre- and post-tour transport themselves - this service can be added by request.
  • Hotel pickup or drop-off
    Unless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
Where You'll Explore
Map of MALBA Tour: A Guided Crash Course general meeting point area

Make the Most of Your Tour

Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.

Dos:
  • Wear comfortable footwear
  • Check the weather and dress appropriately
  • Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
  • Feel free to ask your Expert anything
Don'ts:
  • Bring firearms or weapons
  • Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
  • Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments
Any questions? You can always contact us.

Don’t just take our word for it

42 Reviews

We spent a delightful three hours with Jonathan Feldman for his Guided Crash Course starting at MALBA and continuing out into the streets of Palermo Soho. Jonathan’s knowledge of Latin American art and the current art scene in Buenos Aires seems encyclopedic. He was very flexible, fun, and easy to spend time with. We learned a lot and would recommend this tour to any visitor wanting to learn more about the culture and the city.

Photo Shared by Jeannette with their review

Juan was an excellent guide for the tour of MALBA. His background in design ties in well to his knowledge of the contemporary art on display. He shares his insights in engaging conversation and also left room for us to approach the art on our own. The artists represented were from across Latin America and Juan placed them in the context of the artistic and cultural influences that likely affected how their art was generated.

Our tour with Santiago was phenomenal and a highlight of our time in Buenos Aires. What made this tour a treat was not only Santiago's vast knowledge of modern Latin American art and artists but also our trip to the lesser visited residential neighborhood of Coughlan with its street art and preserved train station. Santiago is a talented street artist and he showed some of his work as well as the installations of other artists who use the walls of this town as their canvas. He discussed the history of the street art projects and how the municipal government and the artists work with the neighborhood residents to make sure their projects enhance the local playground, hospital, and train station. This was both a scholarly and fun way to learn about some of the most famous modern artists throughout Latin America as well as the local street art scene. Santiago will tailor the walk to clients' interest. He asked us if we wanted to keep the tour limited to MALBA or take the side trip to Coughlan; I highly encourage Context clients to take him up on going to Coughlan.

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