The museum connects a heritage-listed colonial mansion to a modernist building via an elevated, fluid walkway.
The rooftop structure, resembling a wave, was designed by the firm Bernardes + Jacobsen.
The Escola do Olhar, housed on-site, serves as a permanent research and pedagogical center for public art education.
The museum was a key component of the 'Porto Maravilha' urban redevelopment project preceding the 2016 Olympics.
Its collection includes over 8,000 items, emphasizing the artistic memory of the city.
The museum site sits on land that was historically significant to the port's commerce and trade.
The Rio Museum of Art (MAR) is located in the Praça Mauá district, integrated into the revitalized port area of Rio de Janeiro. The institution occupies two distinct buildings: an early 20th-century eclectic-style mansion and a modernist former bus station terminal, linked by a serpentine concrete roof structure. Its exhibition program focuses on the historical and contemporary visual culture of Rio de Janeiro through a lens of social transformation. The museum functions as a center for both art exhibitions and education, featuring a dedicated school, the Escola do Olhar. Visitors encounter a diverse collection that traverses history, photography, and indigenous art. The rooftop provides panoramic perspectives of the Guanabara Bay and the neighboring Museum of Tomorrow. The museum's curatorial approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of art and local heritage.
The rooftop terrace looking out toward the Museum of Tomorrow and Guanabara Bay.
Visit the top floor observatory deck for the best angle of the surrounding port architecture.
Check the museum's digital portal for rotating temporary exhibitions before arrival.
Combine the visit with a walk through the neighboring Olympic Boulevard mural corridor.
Do not attempt to visit on Mondays, as the institution is strictly closed to the public.
Closed on Mondays.
No flash photography in designated exhibition halls; maintain a moderate volume level in the galleries.
