Works on Paper: Picasso, Matisse and Francoise Gilot

Free

DEUX HOMMES ET UNE FEMME
(Two Men and A Woman)
Works on Paper: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Françoise Gilot
Exhibition at Creative Arts Napier, 16 Byron Street, Napier
15-28 May 2026

The influence of the Cubists and the Fauves on modern art in the 20th century cannot be overstated. Its most important exponents, the Cubist Pablo Picasso and the Fauve Henri Matisse are arguably the most important modern artists of the first half of the 20th century with ongoing experimentation and innovation with both form and colour that was a revolution in modern art. Their media included not only painting and sculpture, but also the important and uniquely modern medium of paper.

After World War II, it was works on paper where both Picasso and Matisse made major creative breakthroughs in art – and at breakneck speed!

Picasso, with the technical assistance of the best printmakers in the world, single-handedly led the way, with an intense period of innovative printmaking, rightly referred to as a “revolution."

In connection with this critical period of Picasso’s printmaking, his partner, Françoise Gilot (an accomplished painter and lithographer, and mother of two of Picasso’s children, Claude and Paloma) was an important influence.

Parallel with Picasso, Henri Matisse was also using paper, however, in a totally different way. With just a pair of scissors and coloured paper, Matisse created some of the most iconic and monumental works of his entire artistic career. Gilot’s friendship with Matisse, while living with Picasso in the south of France, witnessed firsthand the creation of Matisse’ “cut-outs” as they were called, including the first major cut-out portfolio, titled Jazz.

Following on from a comprehensive exhibition of Gilot’s printmaking in 2022, DKH Gallery and Creative Arts Napier (CAN) are proud to present the lithographs of Picasso published by Mourlot Editions and in Verve Magazine, the Góngora Portfolio, the entire Jazz Portfolio of Henri Matisse, his Verve covers and selected works of Matisse from his final Verve publication.

This exhibition is the first of its kind in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere to bring together in one location so many important examples created by Picasso and Matisse at the height of their innovative works on paper . Prints and drawings created by Françoise Gilot, both during this period and following will also be on display.

Free of charge to all visitors in the Main Gallery of Creative Arts Napier (CAN) from the 15 - 28 May 2026, the exhibition will be of interest to art lovers, artists, art historians, students of art and modern art history, French language and culture, as well as to the general public.

These rare and historic works on paper will be available to collectors at the exhibition only, with a third of all proceeds supporting the vital work of Creative Arts Napier in the local community.