A major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Pablo Picasso will open Thursday at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. The exhibition, titled 'Explore Picasso: From the Studio,' offers visitors a new perspective on the renowned artist's extraordinary career and creative journey.
Born in Malaga, Spain in 1881, Pablo Picasso stands as one of the most celebrated artists on the global stage and is widely credited with transforming the language of art in the 20th century. This comprehensive exhibition, curated in partnership with the Musée Picasso Paris, represents a major monographic showcase of his work, providing visitors with a rare glimpse into various phases and aspects of his remarkable life.
Visitors to the exhibition will encounter diverse types of artwork, including paintings, paper sculptures, ceramics, and photographic works. Among the featured pieces are 'Bust of a Woman with a Blue Hat,' 'Portrait of Marie-Therese,' and 'The Studio at La Californie,' showcasing the breadth and evolution of Picasso's artistic vision.
Dr. Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, described the exhibition as telling the story of an "amazing journey" spanning from the late 19th century to the 1970s in southern France. "Picasso is an artist who never stops thinking, never stops experimenting, is always trying new forms and new ideas," she explained, expressing her hope that the exhibition will "blow people's minds."
For curator Janet McLean, the task of curating Picasso's work presents both joy and challenge. "Picasso created about 150,000 works in his lifetime, so we have worked with the Musée in Paris to select works that we think will give our audience and visitors an access point to Picasso in his life," she said. McLean emphasized the significance of bringing "the first major Picasso exhibition to Ireland" and noted it as "the first exhibition about Picasso in Ireland for 20 years and the only one to give an overview of his life, his work and his career, to show people why he is an important cultural figure."
The exhibition aims to reveal the human side of the prolific artist, who died in Mougins in southern France in 1973 at age 91. McLean stressed that Picasso "never rested on his laurels" and "was always pushing himself to do more." She encouraged visitors not to be "scared" of Picasso's work, sharing one of her favorite quotes from the artist: When he began making ceramics and produced 1,000 pieces in his first year of 1948, people called him amazing, but he responded, "No, I am just an ignoramus. I am just learning and I am not an expert."
Dr. Campbell noted that while many people associate Picasso primarily with his famous work "Guernica," this exhibition will show visitors "how he really was, finally." The comprehensive showcase demonstrates Picasso's lifelong commitment to artistic experimentation and his relentless pursuit of new creative possibilities.
The exhibition opens Thursday and will run through February 22, 2026, giving visitors an extended opportunity to explore the artistic journey of one of history's most influential and adventurous artists.
