Buffalo, NY – On November 5, 2016, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery will open a new exhibition titled Picasso: The Artist and His Models. The exhibition will be located in the North Galleries of the museum’s 1905 Building and will remain on view until February 19, 2017. The museum will also extend its hours until 9 pm every Thursday for the duration of the exhibition.

Across the globe, the period between 1910 and 1945 witnessed considerable political, social, and economic shifts. It was also a time of significant artistic development, from the rise of the avant-garde to the naissance of Abstract Expressionism. This exhibition explores the work of protean artist Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) against this cultural backdrop, whose career spans this entire epoch and beyond.

At the core of this exhibition is Picasso’s extraordinary ability to translate three dimensions into two-dimensional evocations. His countless models, which naturally included his friends and lovers, also comprised mundane objects whose shapes and interrelations intrigued him. His close personal relationships with many of his subjects allowed Picasso to distill their energy and infuse it into works of art. He created an enduring pictorial dialogue that remains infinitely complex and dynamic.

The majority of the works presented in this exhibition are drawn from the Albright-Knox’s collection, including five paintings, two important sculptures, several smaller three-dimensional works, and more than two-dozen works on paper. These are joined by fourteen iconic paintings from collections in both Europe and the United States.

Additionally, this exemplary grouping will be contextualized by a selection of works from the Albright-Knox’s collection by Picasso’s contemporaries. These include Georges Braque (French, 1882–1963), Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989), Juan Gris (Spanish, 1887–1927), Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954), Georgia O’Keeffe (American, 1887–1986), and Morgan Russell (American, 1886–1953), among others. 

This is the second in a series of exhibitions in which the museum’s collection and the borrowed works of a singular artist converge to narrate a chapter in the evolution of modern art.

This exhibition is conceived by Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director Dr. Janne Sirén and organized by Sirén and Godin-Spaulding Curator & Curator for the Collection Holly E. Hughes. It was made possible through the generosity of M&T Bank. Additional support has been provided by Ferrero USA Inc. and Fondazione Ferrero Onlus; Superior Group; The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo; Amy and Harris Schwalb; Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP; C2 Paint; and by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

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