A major new Picasso exhibition, Picasso: A Legacy, has opened in London – and it’s completely free to visit. Featuring more than 130 original artworks by Pablo Picasso, the new exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s prolific creativity during the final four decades of his life.
The new free Picasso exhibition in London celebrates one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, bringing together rare lithographs, ceramics, etchings and drawings that showcase Picasso’s constant reinvention and artistic defiance. From abstract portraits and mythological creatures to playful ceramics, every piece tells a story of an artist who never stopped experimenting.
Picasso: A Legacy
Exploring six themes – Artist and Model, Artist’s Muses, Alter Egos, Finding Peace, Still Lifes and Ceramics, and Creativity, Legacy and Death – the exhibition takes visitors on a visual journey through Picasso’s later years. Each section reflects a different facet of his genius, from his fascination with women and mythology to his witty reflections on ageing and mortality.
Picasso Ceramics
Among the highlights of the exhibition are Picasso’s playful and experimental ceramics, which he began producing after settling in the south of France. Works such as Chouette (1968) and Vase Deux anses hautes (1953) reveal his fascination with transforming everyday forms into expressive, sculptural art.
These whimsical creations – depicting owls, bulls and abstract faces – capture Picasso’s joy in experimentation. Created between 1948 and 1968, the ceramics reflect his exploration of three-dimensional form and texture, combining elements of humour, symbolism and technical mastery.
Picasso Prints
Picasso: A Legacy also showcases a robust collection of Picasso’s works on paper, demonstrating his deep engagement with printmaking. The exhibition features lithographs, etchings and linocuts, alongside complete portfolios such as La Tauromaquia (1957–59) and La Guerre et la paix (1954).
Through the juxtaposition of multi-state prints and rare artist proofs, visitors can trace Picasso’s meticulous creative process – his constant revisiting and reworking of images until they achieved the perfect balance of spontaneity and precision. It’s a vivid reminder that Picasso’s genius extended far beyond painting – his printmaking was equally bold, experimental, and influential.
Women, Muses, and Portraiture
Central to the exhibition is Picasso’s approach to portraiture and his complex relationships with the women who inspired his art. The presence of a new muse often marked a creative turning point for him, sparking new artistic directions.
Two striking portraits – Femme au fauteuil no. 4 (1949) and Jacqueline de profil à droite (1958) – depict two of Picasso’s most influential partners, Françoise Gilot and Jacqueline Roque. These women were not only his companions but also catalysts for change in his artistic style. Their portraits demonstrate Picasso’s evolving vision of form, intimacy and identity – and how his own self-image was entwined with theirs.
Myth, Mortality, and Creative Defiance
Picasso’s fascination with mythology is another recurring theme throughout the exhibition. Figures such as fauns, minotaurs, matadors and owls populate his works, representing facets of his personality and his lifelong preoccupation with desire, vitality and mortality.
In Faune musicien no. 3 (1948), a half-man, half-goat creature plays the aulos, an ancient double-pipe instrument associated with revelry and freedom. The faun’s presence, both playful and profound, serves as a metaphor for Picasso himself – a man divided between instinct and intellect, pleasure and discipline.
In his later years, Picasso’s work took on an even greater urgency. His output became a race against time – a creative act of defiance in the face of mortality. His late works, filled with humour, parody and self-reflection, reveal an artist who saw reinvention as the only form of immortality.
Speaking about the new Picasso exhibition in London, Founder and President of Halcyon Gallery, Paul Green said: “Halcyon is delighted to present Picasso: A Legacy, a landmark exhibition that brings together an exceptional selection of works from one of the most pioneering artists of all time.
“Featuring over 130 original artworks, Picasso: A Legacy demonstrates Halcyon’s commitment to delivering exhibitions of international significance for its collectors and the wider public.”
Vice President and Creative Director at Halcyon, Kate Brown added: “With fury and unabashed imagination, Picasso changed the course of art history, placing him in the annals of history’s greatest artists. This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into Picasso’s astonishing and restless creativity during the final four decades of his career.
“Through works on paper and ceramics, we see how he continually reinvented himself, pushing mediums into bold new expressions that capture both the vitality of his later years and the timeless spirit of his art.”
Picasso: A Legacy is open daily at the Halcyon Gallery, New Bond Street, and admission is free.
