MARCO was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, in a Minimalist Post-modern architectural style.

A large outdoor bronze sculpture is a landmark at the museum's entrance plaza on the street.

[3] The permanent collection of the museum is composed of paintings, sculptures, installations, and graphic artworks.

[4] Many Mexican artists have been exhibited in temporary shows at MARCO, including Frida Kahlo, Mathias Goeritz, Gabriel Orozco, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Armando Salas Portugal, Julio Galán, Teodoro González de León, Enrique Guzmán, Ricardo Mazal, Ricardo Legorreta, Miriam Medrez, Rodolfo Morales, Paula Santiago, Alberto Vargas, and Hermenegildo Bustos.

Other nationalities of artists have also been exhibited in temporary shows, including Isamu Noguchi, Joseph Beuys, Jenny Holzer, Joan Brossa, Ana Mendieta, Paula Rego, Cory Hanson, Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Jan Hendrix, Michael Ray-Von, Annette Messager, Ron Mueck, Ernesto Neto, and Claudio Bravo.