The Art Institute of Chicago collects stories of artists and dealers who supported Picasso

The Art Institute of Chicago presents Picasso: Drawing from Life, the last of eight exhibitions scheduled in the United States as part of the Picasso Celebration 1973-2023, an initiative promoted by the governments of Spain and France that pays tribute to the Malaga-born artist on the 50th anniversary of his death.

Curated by Jay A. Clarke, Rothman Curator of Prints and Drawings, and Emily Ziemba, Director of Curatorial Administration and Curatorial Researcher in Prints and Drawings at The Art Institute of Chicago, it will be open to the public from November 10 to April 8, 2024.

Pablo Picasso, often portrayed as a singular artistic genius, is widely recognized for his immense creative legacy. Throughout his artistic career, he was also supported by a wide variety of people who stood by him until the end, and who, at times, have been forgotten. This exhibition sheds light on the stories of these figures, who were his artistic collaborators, illustrators, dealers, lovers, and family members.

Picasso: Drawing from Life spans the 70 years of his career, from 1899 to 1969, and showcases The Art Institute of Chicago's extensive collection of Picasso's works on paper. The exhibition features more than 60 drawings, prints and illustrated books, paintings and sculptures.

Organized in chronological order, the exhibition highlights the influence exerted at different moments in Picasso's life by personalities such as his dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, the prominent artist George Braque, his lovers Fernande Olivier, Marie-Thérèse Walter and Dora Maar, and his own family.