▲ Head with Mask (Tête au masque), Craft, 31x31x4cm, 1956 ⓒ Pablo PICASSO, MMCA

A collection display, 'Picasso Ceramics', was held to re-examine Pablo Picasso's ceramic works held by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The exhibition is designed to shed new light on the ceramic works of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), a pioneer of Cubism and a genius painter in the contemporary art world. The "Picasso Ceramics" showcases 107 pieces of Picasso's ceramics, including the collection of Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung, donated in 2021.

▲ Large Bird, Black Face (Gros oiseau visage noir), Craft, 50x47x38, 1951 ⓒ Pablo PICASSO, MMCA

Picasso started ceramic art at the height of his painting career and created numerous artworks after being fascinated by the craftsmanship. The exhibition depicts Picasso's journey of pottery and artistic atmosphere, which blossomed in the southern French city of Valoris in 1946.

The artist was fascinated by pottery as an art that combined the sculptural properties of creating shapes from clay with the painting and painting on the pottery. Although not well known to the public, Picasso had a wide influence on the history of ceramic art.

▲ Centaur (Centaure), Craft, 41x41x4cm, 1956 ⓒ Pablo PICASSO, MMCAIn this exhibition, visitors can directly feel the artistic journey that Picasso has gone through while appreciating his ceramic works based on the women, animals, and mythical images that he loved.

The exhibition will be held until Feb. 25 at the Cheongju branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.▲ Goat's Head in Profile (Tête de chèvre de profil), Craft, 40x40x4cm, 1952 ⓒ Pablo PICASSO, MMCA

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com