Ballet 1966 (from Roland Petit's ballet "In praise of Folly") Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) has become a famous figure of French 20th century art, especially thanks to her large blown-up sculptures of brightly coloured women- her "Nanas" (French slang for Women), by which she explodes the canons of female beauty and brings a smile to your face. A big exhibition is programmed at the Grand Palais in Paris later this year. For the moment, there is a highly colourful summer show down in Aix-en-Provence, at the elegant Hôtel Caumont museum. 70 works are on display, including some rarely seen. The theme is Niki's magic bestiary: poster for the Aix Exhibition Animals are important throughout Niki's work and have symbolic meaning. Birds, according to the commissaire of the Aix exhibition- Lucia Pesapane- are a metaphor for the artist's spiritual quest and also represent goodness...
Amedeo Modigliani: Jeune fille à la chemise rayée (Young girl in stripey shirt) 1917 The Exhibition of the Nahmad Collection at the Musée des Impressionismes, Giverny, culminates in three works by 20th century masters: Modigliani, Matisse and Picasso. It is refreshing to see some lesser-known paintings. Modigliani's young girl, above, looks a thoroughly modern woman in her rather masculine attire but her gaze is impenetrable. It is unusual for Modigliani to paint the eye pupils- many of his models have blank, mask-like eyes. Matisse's cosy scene of a piano lesson was painted when he was living in Nice. He finds a rich harmony of colours and a dynamic balance between the different patterns: Henri Matisse: La leçon de piano (The Piano lesson) 1923 Picasso is at the heart of David Nahmad's collection, which contains around 300 of the Spanish painter's works. Here, the Pierrot with flowers is a portrait of Picasso's son Paulo, born in 1921, but harks back to a tradit...