An Exhibition Of Firsts: Picasso, the Figure Lands At Louvre Abu Dhabi

From sculpture to the emergence of Cubism, a post-war return to classicism and the hybrid creatures of surrealism, the exhibition’s a fascinating exploration of Picasso’s interest in metamorphosis and the psychological tensions within the figure. Pablo Picasso, often hailed as the most influential artist of the 20th century, is truly celebrated here. Under the curatorship of Cécile Debray - President of the Musée national Picasso-Paris, Virginie Perdrisot-Cassan -Chief Curator and Head of Sculpture and Ceramics at the Musée national Picasso-Paris, and Aisha AlAhmadi - Associate Curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi - the exhibition offers a retrospective and a chronological itinerary of Picasso’s work, marrying his radical artistic transformations with Greek mythology, manifested through his various techniques on painting, sculpture, drawing and ceramics.

Of the 130 artworks in the collection, seven come from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s existing collection and six from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The rest are made up of significant loans from France, Qatar, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and West Asia - so you can cave yourself some air miles and take advantage of this local Picasso assembly - it’s a real treat, and unlike anything we’ve seen in the Middle East before.

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Highlighting Picasso’s impact on modern art in the Arab world and its reach beyond European shores, six modern Arab artists are also featured - their works blending seamlessly into the tapestry of Picasso’s showcase. You’ll find paintings by Iraqi artists Dia al-Azzawi, Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan Al Said, in addition to Egyptian artist Ramses Younan. A painted ceramic work by the Algerian painter and ceramicist Baya Mahieddine is also in residence - a full circle moment, as Mahieddine’s 1947 exhibition at Galerie Maeght in Paris drew the attention of Picasso himself, along with other Surrealists.

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Marking Louvre Abu Dhabi’s first collaboration with the Musée national Picasso–Paris, Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi is ‘delighted to unveil Picasso,  the Figure, [an exhibition] that explores the legacy of one of the leading artistic figures of the 20th century, inviting visitors to experience an exceptional selection of artworks spanning instrumental periods of his career.’

The exhibition has been a labour of love, care and great curatorial collaboration across continents. ‘Conceived from the world’s richest collection of [Picasso’s] works and developed in a spirit of exchange with the teams and collections of Louvre Abu Dhabi … the exhibition explores how Picasso continually reinvented representation and expression … with several masterpieces being shown at Louvre Abu Dhabi for the very first time,’ observed Cécile Debray and Virginie Perdrisot-Cassan of the Musée national Picasso-Paris. 

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Get the most out of the exhibition with Louvre Abu Dhabi’s calendar of community-focused programmes: commencing January 20th with the Picasso Curatorial Talk, look out for upcoming special film screenings, including Mystery of Picasso on January 23rd and Young Picasso on April 25th, providing cinematic insights into the artist’s life and practice. This February, Louvre Abu Dhabi is gearing up for another dazzling Masquerave on February 7th, an after-hours extravaganza that blends art, music and performance at the museum park.

Get the kids involved: there’s a specially designed children’s path enabling young visitors to discover the exhibition through questions and fun facts. The museum’s ongoing programmes, such as Drawing at the Museum and Book an Easel, will feature sessions dedicated to Picasso, the Figure, as well as specially curated guided tours.

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The cherry on top? Some of Picasso’s most iconic works will be projected onto the external walls of the Louvre at night over the coming months, and it’s free to come and check the light show out. Trust us though - Picasso, the Figure is well worth the price of admission, and we’ll be back more than once before May 31st rolls around. 

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Picasso, the Figure

Louvre Abu Dhabi 

January 21st to May 31st 2026

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Entrance to the exhibition is free with Louvre Abu Dhabi general admission tickets (AED70 for adults).

Find tickets and more information at www.louvreabudhabi.ae or call +971 600 56 55 66. 

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