The Museum of Modern Art, Guatemala City

The Museum of Modern Art, officially the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno “Carlos Mérida,” preserves the development of Guatemalan visual art across roughly a century. Its institutional roots reach back to the National Museum of History and Fine Arts, founded in 1935. The collection moved into its present hall in 1968, and the institution received its modern-art designation in 1975.

Designed by Roberto Moreno and inaugurated in 1939, the building is an important part of the experience. Its central Mudéjar-style ceiling consists of natural mahogany octagons decorated with bronze rosettes. A large wrought-iron chandelier with 96 lights hangs below it, while an upper gallery influenced by Spanish architecture features painted wooden beams and 52 surrounding windows.

Displays present Guatemalan art chronologically, with a gallery dedicated to Carlos Mérida and spaces for temporary exhibitions. Paintings and sculptures connect Indigenous traditions with modern art. The museum has remained closed since late 2022 because of roof repairs, restoration and exhibition redesign. As of May 2026, it had not reopened, so travellers should confirm its status before planning a visit.