About 20 kilometres from Barcelona, Mollet del Vallès is home to a cultural collection built around the legacy of painter and collector Joan Abelló. The Fundació Abelló brings together nearly 10,000 works and objects, spanning different periods and artistic disciplines, with a particular focus on art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Abelló, who was born in Mollet, donated part of his artistic collection to the town. The museum opened to the public in a modernist building in 1999. Its holdings include paintings by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Joaquín Sorolla, Antoni Tàpies and Joan Brossa, alongside works by artists such as Ramon Casas, Isidre Nonell, Juan Gris and Fortuny. The collection also includes sculptures by artists including Manolo Hugué, Mariano Benlliure and Clarà, as well as part of Abelló’s own work.
The foundation’s collection extends beyond painting and sculpture. It includes items related to modernism and Asian and African art, as well as clothing, furniture, porcelain, glass, bullfighting materials, photographs, documents and a substantial music collection. Only part of the holdings is on display at any one time. The museum has permanent exhibitions on its first and second floors, while its ground and lower floors host temporary shows. A separate space, known as the Escaparate, is dedicated to the production and promotion of visual arts.
Next to the museum is the Casa del Pintor, the house where Abelló was born. As his collection grew, he bought neighbouring homes and added them to the original residence to create more space for paintings, sculptures and other objects. The connected rooms, staircases, floors and cellars reflect that gradual expansion.
The two buildings offer different views of Abelló’s legacy: the museum presents works within an exhibition setting, while the former home retains the character of a residence reshaped by its owner’s collecting. Together, they show both his artistic work and the breadth of the collection he assembled.
Sources: elDiario.es.