The emblematic building belonged to the Bavarian Fix family and from 1893, it housed the first Greek brewery. The building was abandoned in the late 1970s and a prolonged debate took place over subsequent decades on its preservation and utilisation. Meanwhile, EMST was founded in 1997 and bought its first artworks in 2000, which were exhibited in various locations around Athens, such as the Athens Concert Hall, the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Athens Conservatory up until 2020.