Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is delighted to present an extraordinary international exhibition pairing the work of Pablo Picasso, one of the twentieth century’s most influential artists, with the bold creative vision of internationally celebrated designer Sir Paul Smith.
Opening on Saturday 10 October 2026, 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 Periods 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, Smith 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, Smith 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.”
The designer’s immersive staging also amplifies perspectives on other aspects of Picasso’s life and work. These include his changing sense of self over nine decades, and his relationships to mythology, bullfighting, high fashion, ceramics and past masters, such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Edouard Manet and Vincent Van Gogh.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Dr Zara Stanhope says: “It has been more than 30 years since a major solo exhibition of Picasso’s work has been seen in Aotearoa New Zealand, making this a unique opportunity to have a focused experience of the breadth and depth of his creative practice in person. Sir Paul Smith’s imaginative exhibition design invites visitors to re-discover an artist whose impact continues to bring alive how we understand aspects of the twentieth-century.”
President of Musée national Picasso–Paris Cécile Debray says: “This unprecedented collaboration with British designer Paul Smith further shapes the dynamic image of the Picasso Museum, which is committed to presenting its collections in a broad and contemporary way. I hope that this retrospective of Picasso’s work will resonate with communities in New Zealand. I am delighted by this fruitful and friendly partnership between our two museums. And I hope the exhibition is a great success.”
Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith exhibition presents over 80 original artworks by Picasso, including 31 paintings, 18 prints, 11 drawings, 10 ceramics and 10 sculptures. It also features three works from the Robertson Gift in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, placing Picasso’s practice in dialogue with works held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The exhibition has been curated by Joanne Snrech (Musée national Picasso–Paris) and Sophie Matthiesson (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki).
The exhibition is organised by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso–Paris. Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith is proudly supported by HSBC, Resene, Auckland MINI Garage and East Auckland MINI Garage, Omnigraphics, Cordis and the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation. The exhibition is indemnified by the New Zealand Government.
Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith opens at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on Saturday 10 October 2026 and runs until Monday 1 February 2027. Tickets will go on sale on 7 September. Auckland Art Gallery Members receive unlimited free access to the exhibition.
Pablo Picasso, Femme assise aux bras croises (Le Tremblay-sur-Mauldre) 1937, oil on canvas, 81 x 60cm, The exhibition is organised by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris.
