Museo del Barro, Art museum in Asunción, Paraguay
The institution divides into three separate wings, each dedicated to distinct artistic traditions. One section displays pre-Columbian and colonial pottery, another features ethnographic collections from native peoples, while the third showcases contemporary painting, sculpture, and mixed-media works by Paraguayan and regional artists. Exhibition spaces allow visitors to explore different artistic expressions through both chronological and thematic arrangements.
Established in 1979 as a private initiative, the institution began operations with traveling exhibitions before securing its permanent site in an outer district of the capital. The founders aimed to preserve Paraguayan ceramic traditions and indigenous artistic heritage. Over subsequent decades, the collections expanded significantly, incorporating contemporary artworks and establishing the institution as a reference point for regional artistic documentation and preservation.
Housing over 1,700 ethnographic objects from indigenous groups across Paraguay, the collection includes items from Guaraní, Ayoreo, and other communities. Traditional crafts such as basketry, ceremonial masks, and featherwork document spiritual practices and daily life. The institution serves as a repository for preserving native cultural traditions while promoting contemporary artistic expression from Paraguay and surrounding nations.
Located at Grabadores del Cabichuí 2716, between Cañada and Emeterio Miranda streets, the facility opens Tuesday through Saturday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Public transportation connects the neighborhood to downtown Asunción. Visitors should allocate at least two hours to explore all three collection areas thoroughly. The museum shop sells handcrafted items directly from regional artisans.
The museum shop collaborates directly with craftspeople from various Paraguayan regions, selling authentic ceramics, basketry, and textile works. These products are made using traditional methods and provide buyers an opportunity to support local communities. Items sold reflect the same techniques documented in the ethnographic collections displayed throughout the galleries.
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