Picasso's legacy takes center stage in Shanghai exhibition

An international art exhibition dedicated to Spanish painter Pablo Picasso opened at the Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) on December 18, marking the first stop of a global tour and the show's only stop in China.

Titled "Picasso Through the Eyes of Paul Smith," the exhibition is co-organized by the MAP and the Musée national Picasso – Paris. Running from December 22 to May 3, it offers visitors a rare opportunity to view a wide-ranging selection of works spanning Picasso's artistic career.

The exhibition features more than 80 original works from the Paris museum's collection, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, watercolors, ceramics, and prints. Together, they trace the evolution of Picasso's artistic language, from early periods such as the Blue and Pink Phases to Cubism, Neoclassicism, Surrealism, and his later experimental works, making this one of the most comprehensive Picasso retrospectives presented in China.

Co-organized by Chinese and French cultural institutions, the exhibition stands as a vivid example of expanding China–France cultural cooperation. It reflects long-standing exchanges between the two countries in art, heritage preservation, and museum collaboration, while highlighting the role of culture in deepening mutual understanding between civilizations.

British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith serves as the exhibition's artistic director, bringing a contemporary curatorial perspective to the presentation. His design emphasizes color, pattern, and immersive spatial experiences, aiming to create a dialogue between Picasso's groundbreaking innovations and modern audiences.

"As a fashion designer, curating this exhibition has been a fascinating experience," said Paul Smith. "I remain deeply curious about how contemporary perspectives can reinterpret these masterpieces. Through an intuitive and visually engaging presentation, I hope the exhibition will inspire audiences to explore the shared creative spirit of the two visionaries, and to draw inspiration from their bold use of color, optimism and lateral thinking," he added.

Li Minkun, President of the MAP, said the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at Picasso's lifelong artistic journey.  

"Visitors can see how Picasso built his own artistic world over the course of his career. Childhood was always one of the core elements of his creations, and we have specially designed a session focused on this theme," Li said. "We hope this space will attract more young visitors and further enhance MAP's role in public art education."

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. A pioneering force behind Cubism and a central figure in modern art, he often reinvented his style across different periods, leaving a legacy of unparalleled diversity and innovation.

The exhibition coincides with another eye-opening show currently on display at MAP – "The Wonder of Patterns: Masterpieces from India, Iran and the Ottoman World" from the Musée du Louvre – making Shanghai a vibrant hub for global art this winter.