The Other Picasso: Back to the Origin

This exhibition explores how Picasso continually returned to his cultural and familial roots to push the boundaries of his art. Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Picasso was shaped by the classical traditions of the Mediterranean and the early influence of his father—a painter and teacher—who first taught him to draw pigeons, a subject that remained iconic in his work.

Following personal tragedy and family relocations to Galicia and later Barcelona, Picasso’s deep emotional experiences began to shape both his artistic and literary expressions. His move to Catalonia at age 14 marked a return to the Mediterranean, a region that would later become his chosen home in France after WWII.

The exhibition highlights how Picasso's passion for innovation led him beyond painting—into dance, costume design, literature, and ceramics. His encounters with artists like Goya and El Greco, and mythological symbols like the Minotaur, reflect his enduring dialogue with history and identity. Notably, the influence of the Mediterranean’s ancient artistic traditions—revived in his post-war ceramic work in Vallauris—demonstrates Picasso’s lifelong fascination with transformation and reinvention.

Rare lithographs, etchings, manuscripts, and ceramic works on display trace this journey, offering intimate insight into the mind of one of the 20th century’s most complex and visionary artists.