After two years behind closed doors, one of São Paulo’s best-known museums is back in Ibirapuera Park. The São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (MAM) reopened to the public in September, after being closed since August 2024 due to construction work on the Marquise.
But anyone expecting to find the museum exactly as they left it may be in for a surprise. During this period, the MAM took the opportunity to renovate its headquarters, expand its educational program, and improve accessibility.
Furthermore, the reopening featured a new edition of the traditional “Panorama of Brazilian Art” and even a restaurant with a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide. In other words, you can definitely add this spot to your itinerary again for your next visit to Ibirapuera Park.
What can you expect to find at the new MAM São Paulo?
The transformation begins with the building itself. During the two years it was closed, the museum made changes to the reception area, circulation spaces, auditorium, educational space, library, and gift shop.
Uneven surfaces have been eliminated, and the old staircase leading to the auditorium has been removed. Furthermore, a new wayfinding system aims to make the visit more seamless and accessible.
To mark its return, the museum is presenting the 39th “Panorama of Brazilian Art: After All Has Been Said,” curated by Diane Lima. The exhibition brings together 33 artists from 11 states and runs through January 24, 2027.
The exhibition addresses issues such as transformation, memory, territory, the body, ancestry, and imagination. It also invites reflection on social changes and policies of racial reparations in Brazilian art.
Even Ibirapuera Park is part of the exhibition. In one of the galleries, the removal of the dark film from the glass facade has once again visually integrated the park’s greenery into the exhibition space.
And there’s also something new for those who enjoy combining art and gastronomy. The museum now houses Petí no MAM, led by chef Victor Dimitrow and restaurateur Bárbara Camargo.
The restaurant has a Bib Gourmand rating from the Michelin Guide and is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. By the way, you don’t have to visit the exhibitions to eat there.
Finally, the venue’s program also includes guided tours, workshops, courses, and storytelling sessions, with activities for children, teens, adults, families, and educators.
There are also alternative visiting hours for people with sensory hypersensitivity, agoraphobia, and other conditions that may make visits difficult during busier times.
And an old favorite remains there. The Sculpture Garden retains its approximately 6,000 m² and roughly 30 outdoor works.
So, after checking out the exhibitions, you can still wrap up your journey through art and nature in one of Ibirapuera’s most pleasant spots.
