Oscar Niemeyer Museum

The Museu Oscar Niemeyer is a public cultural institution in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer and commonly nicknamed the Museu do Olho (Museum of the Eye). The museum opened to the public in the early 2000s and is noted for its modernist architecture by Niemeyer.

The site is known for its striking eye-shaped tower and adjacent exhibition halls that host contemporary art, design and visual culture displays. Galleries exhibit rotating temporary shows alongside a permanent collection of graphic arts and design pieces, and the complex includes an auditorium, library and visitor services. The reflecting pool in front of the eye is a common vantage point for photography and short outdoor visits.

Commissioned and designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the museum was established in the early 21st century to house municipal and private collections and to present national and international temporary exhibitions. Over time it has expanded programming to include design, architecture and visual-arts events while retaining the architect’s signature modernist forms.

Sited in Curitiba’s civic district, the museum sits near municipal government buildings and parks in the city center of Paraná state. It is accessible by city transport from central Curitiba.

• Best view: Located in the Centro Cívico area of Curitiba, the complex is best photographed from the reflecting pool in front of the eye-shaped tower.
• Timings and exhibitions: Guided tours and temporary exhibitions rotate frequently, so check the museum schedule before visiting.

What to See #

• The Eye (Museu do Olho): A distinctive eye-shaped exhibition tower that sits above a reflecting pool and contains gallery space and viewpoints over the complex.
• Main galleries and facilities: Ground-level exhibition halls for rotating contemporary art and design shows, with an auditorium, library and visitor facilities.