Curated by Claudine Grammont, the exhibition Matisse. 1941-1954 sheds light on the final years of Henri Matisse's career, between 1941 and 1954, through more than 300 works, paintings, drawings, cut-out gouaches, illustrated books, textiles and stained glass, from the Centre Pompidou collection and major international loans. It reveals the multidisciplinary scope of his practice during this period, while bringing together an exceptional group of cut-out gouaches.

At nearly eighty years old, Matisse reinvented himself through the medium of the cut-out gouache, which he elevated into an autonomous visual language, free and capable of reaching the universal through its simplicity. Adapted both to reproduction and to monumental commissions, this technique allowed him to fully express the decorative dimension of his art.

The exhibition shows how painting remains at the heart of his approach, far from being supplanted by cut-outs: on the contrary, it unfolds with ever greater space, intensity and color. Among the major ensembles gathered here are the majestic and final of Intérieurs de Vence series from 1947-1948, the album Jazz, the series of Thèmes et variations as well as the brush-and-ink drawings; the main elements of the Chapelle de Vence program; the monumental panels of La Gerbe et des Acanthes, and as as a crowning moment, brought together exceptionally, the great cut-out figures: La Tristesse du roi, Zulma, La Danseuse créole and the famous Nus bleus.

Grand Palais
17 Avenue du Général Eisenhower
75008 Paris

Contact:

Press Inquiries: Céline Janvier
Celine.Janvier@centrepompidou.fr
www.grandpalais.fr/

Africa Fashion at the Musée du quai Branly, Jacques Chirac offers a vibrant exploration of contemporary African fashion, bringing together traditional textiles, garments, and avant-garde creations from across the continent.

Curated by Christine Checinska (Victoria and Albert Museum), Hélène Joubert and Christine Barthe, this exhibition highlights how African designers and cultural producers have reshaped sartorial languages over recent decades. It draws a dialogue between historical heritage and cutting-edge innovation, reflecting the role of fashion as a dynamic form of identity, cultural dialogue, and social commentary.

Featuring garments, accessories, fabrics, and visual material rarely seen outside Africa, the show traces stylistic currents that extend from Lagos, Dakar, and Johannesburg to global fashion capitals. It situates fashion not merely as dress but as a site of storytelling, resistance, and creative agency.

Musée du quai Branly
37 Quai Branly
75007 Paris
P : +33 (0)1 56 61 70 00

Press Inquiries: presse@quaibranly.fr
www.quaibranly.fr/