April 8, 2023, will mark the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death at the ripe old age of 91. The celebrations will be numerous, no doubt, and the Picasso Museum in Paris has done something unique. For the exhibition Picasso Celebration: The Collection in a New Light, they have invited an English man, already surprising, the fashion designer and lifestyle guru Sir Paul Smith to bring his artistic flare to re-contextualize the collection for the 21st century.
I have always been a big fan of Paul Smith, firstly by frequently buying his colorful, vertical striped shirts and his beautiful scarves over the years, and secondly, appreciating his sharp aesthetic. His fashion/lifestyle boutiques are a harbinger of good taste and clever design, mixed with a touch of humor.
He’s used many of his signature colors and patterns, including stripes, harlequin, and vintage wallpaper, as a background for the paintings. They gave a fresh new visual to the works I’ve seen so many times before.
The museum has also installed a collection of contemporary art pieces by artists Guillermo Kuitca, Obi Okigbo, Mickalene Thomas, and Chéri Samba, who reinterpret Picasso’s in a new context.
Until August 27, 2023
Musée Picasso
5 rue de Thorigny, 75003
https://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/picasso-celebration-collection-new-light
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