KBr is the Photography Centre with which Fundación MAPFRE begins a new stage in its intense dedication to artistic photography, one of its main areas of cultural activity since 2009. The centre is housed in one of the most iconic buildings of modern-day Barcelona: the MAPFRE Tower in the Olympic Marina. At the bottom of the tower, the exhibition centre occupies the curved two-story projection between Avenida del Litoral and the seafront promenade.
The name KBr Fundación MAPFRE Barcelona Photo Centre refers to the chemical symbol for potassium bromide, a salt used in the analogue photography development process, and a declaration of intentions from the institution's line, committed to the recovery of tradition and masters of photography, but also with contemporaneity.
There are two temporary exhibitions from September 24 to February 1, 2026:
1. Helen Levitt: Helen Levitt (1913–2009) began photographing her native New York in the late 1930s, capturing images that reflected life in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
2. KBr FLAMA’25: KBr Fundación MAPFRE presents the fifth edition of its annual event showcasing the emerging talent of the new generation of photographers who are beginning their professional careers.
Photo credits:
1. Helen Levitt New York, c. 1940 © Film Documents LLC, courtesy Zander Galerie, Cologne
2. Abril Coudougnan Untitled, Tous les [maux] mots sont inventés project, 2024 Digital photograph © Abril Coudougnan
