A major exhibition pairing the work of Pablo Picasso with the bold creative vision of internationally celebrated designer Sir Paul Smith is opening at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith comprises over 80 paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, and drawings from the collection of the Musée national Picasso-Paris. The exhibition traces pivotal moments across Picasso’s career, such as the Blue Period and Rose Period and the style that he put on the art map, Cubism.
Sir Paul Smith is one of Britain’s foremost fashion designers, renowned for his creative spirit and eclectic aesthetic. Since opening his first shop in Nottingham in 1970, he has grown his namesake brand into a global business, with clothing and accessories sold in more than 70 countries.
For Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith, he brings his creative eye to the exhibition’s design. Across 15 sections, he responds to Picasso’s imagery, styles, materials, and the context of the time, experimenting with lighting, wall and floor treatments and his Signature Stripe. Drawing on their shared interest in objects and dress and a mutual sense of fun, the designer creates a spectacular and highly inventive setting for Picasso’s works.
Sir Paul Smith says: “It has been one of the greatest honours of my career to serve as the Artistic Director of Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith exhibition and I am thrilled for its next stop at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. My approach is not academic, instead, I am looking to take visitors on a visual journey that encourages them to see Picasso’s masterpieces in a new light, in hopes to engage with younger audiences and audiences that are not very knowledgeable about the work of this great master.”
Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith is open at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki from 10 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
