Celebrate art from around the world with Bloomberg Connects
April 11, 2025
World Art Day is celebrated annually on April 15th, which marks the birthday of the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1452). This month, take a moment to appreciate the diverse breadth of human creativity and artistic expression across the globe. Discover some unforgettable global cultural spaces and unique exhibitions, from historic houses in Amsterdam and Berlin to unique exhibition venues in South Africa and Ecuador.
Self-portrait, leaning on a stone sill, Rembrandt, 1639, Etching and drypoint, state II (2), 205 x 164 mm
The Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam preserves the home of the renowned 17th-century Dutch artist. The house was where Rembrandt (1606–1669) trained his students, welcomed his guests and clients, and created his masterpieces. A house tour offers insight into his life and everything that inspired him as an artist: his family, the beautiful surroundings of Amsterdam and the bustling city itself with its huge diversity of inhabitants and visitors. Rembrandt’s old house fell into disrepair by the 20th century but was saved by extensive restoration work in 1908-11. It now serves as a snapshot of life in Amsterdam in the 17th century, seen through the eyes of its most famous artist.
A visit to the Museum Knoblauchhaus, located in the oldest neighborhood of Berlin, provides a time capsule of daily life for a German merchant family 200 years ago. Open to the public as a museum since 1989, the restored living spaces are furnished in the Biedermeier style and show how the prominent Knoblauch family lived and managed their silk ribbon business. Everyday objects, home furnishings, and official documents provide insight into the social conditions, architecture, and politics of the Biedermeier period, which spanned from the end of the Napoleonic era in 1815 to the German Revolution in 1848. You can learn more about the history of this period or take a virtual tour of the house via their audio guide.
The Fundació Joan Miró promotes the work and legacy of the renowned Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró (1893–1983). In 1975, Miró established the foundation in Barcelona, primarily with works from his private collection, including masterworks such as his marble sculpture Solar Bird (1968). The building is a landmark of avant-garde, rationalist architecture in the city, designed by his friend and architect Josep Lluís Sert. Visitors can learn more about Miró’s practice through access to his personal library and an archive of his preparatory drawings, making the foundation a reference hub for research. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Fundació Joan Miró was the first museum in Barcelona dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Its continued dedication to budding creativity is evident in Espai 13, a space that has been given over to emerging artistic and curatorial practices.
The Royal Djurgården, in the heart of Stockholm, provides a tranquil natural backdrop for the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park, which displays site-specific commissions by leading international artists. Established by the Crown Princess Couple of Sweden in 2019, the park continues the royal tradition of supporting the country’s cultural life and recognizes the importance of public art experiences in modern society. The park currently includes five permanent artworks by Alice Aycock, Elmgreen & Dragset, Yinka Shonibare, Charlotte Gyllenhammar, and Giuseppe Penone. With one new sculptural commission per year, the park continues to grow and evolve over time. You can learn more about the artists whose works are on view or take a guided audio tour of the sculpture park narrated by famous Swedish actors in their digital guide.
In Brussels, Bozar is a vibrant, multi-purpose cultural venue that offers a platform for artists from Belgium and beyond. Recognizing the transformative potential of the arts, this contemporary art space considers itself a laboratory for positive social change. The building, designed in the Art Deco style by architect Victor Horta, encapsulates a century of history, with the Horta Hall Diary offering just one glimpse into its rich heritage. Bozar’s wide-ranging program ranges from concerts and live performances to film screenings and art exhibitions. The institution frequently hosts international traveling exhibitions, such as When We See Us, which was previously shown at Zeitz MOCAA and examines how 120 artists from Africa and its diaspora have depicted daily life over the past century.
Situated on Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront, Zeitz MOCAA is housed in the enormous Grain Silo complex, a historic landmark that offers a unique viewing experience. This former industrial building was reimagined by renowned architects Heatherwick Studio as an alternative art space in which to display contemporary art from around the world. In addition to rotating displays of its permanent collection, which now numbers over 500 objects, the museum hosts a series of temporary exhibitions. These have included thematic group displays such as Seekers, Seers, Soothsayers and solo exhibitions by Vietnamese-American artist Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn and Nigerian-born British artist Mary Evans.
For the last decade, Fundación EACHEVE has been dedicated to studying, promoting, and preserving art from Ecuador through exhibitions, artists’ books, and educational initiatives. Their scholarship program has enabled over a dozen fellows to participate in prestigious residencies worldwide, fostering international collaborations. The foundation also published the first and most comprehensive overview of current artistic practices in the country, shedding light on its social, cultural, and political contexts. In 2025, Fundación EACHEVE will open a dedicated exhibition space in Guayaquil with an archive and library, creating new opportunities for local artists and allowing visitors to explore the many facets of contemporary Ecuadorian culture.
You can learn more about each of these art institutions, as well as hundreds more around the world, on Bloomberg Connects. Whether you visit in person or virtually from the comfort of home, the app invites you to discover unique art experiences and off-the-beaten-path galleries.