Art
6 Picasso Shows to See This Year
Fifty years after his death, the Cubist painter will be featured in art exhibitions in New York, Paris and Madrid.
Pablo Picasso died 50 years ago this month, on April 8, 1973. This year, the cultural wings of the French and Spanish governments will observe the anniversary by collaborating on “Celebration Picasso 1973-2023,” a collection of exhibitions across Europe and the United States that play off each other like the colors and textures of a Cubist painting. These are six shows to seek out.
New York
The Guggenheim Museum: ‘Young Picasso in Paris’
The Guggenheim will focus on one year of Picasso’s life, exhibiting 10 paintings and works on paper that the artist created after arriving in Paris in the fall of 1900. The show puts particular emphasis on “Le Moulin de la Galette,” an oil painting that offers a good way to compare and contrast Picasso’s style with those of other artists: The famous dance hall that the work depicts was something of a blank canvas for avant-garde brushes, having also been painted by Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Ramon Casas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. May 12 through Aug. 6; guggenheim.org.
Brooklyn Museum: ‘It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby’
Here’s a novel way to land a gig curating a high-profile Picasso show: publicly take the man to task. At least that’s how Hannah Gadsby, the Australian stand-up comic whose 2018 special, “Nanette,” included a piercing bit about the artist’s misogyny, found herself with an invitation to work on this Brooklyn Museum exhibition. The show, put together by Gadsby and the curators Lisa Small and Catherine Morris, will look at Picasso’s work with a feminist eye and address, among other issues, the perils of mythologizing the masters. It will also include works from the museum’s collection of feminist art. June 2 through Aug. 24; brooklynmuseum.org.
Museum of Modern Art: ‘Picasso in Fontainebleau’
In the summer of 1921, long before garages became the settings of folkloric Silicon Valley origin stories, Picasso shacked up in one in Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, to take on his own creative pursuits. Paintings he created there included the neo-Classical “Three Women at the Spring” and the Cubist “Three Musicians,” both of which will be presented at MoMA alongside other works and archival materials from the period. Oct. 1 through Feb. 10, 2024; moma.org.
Europe
Musée de l’Homme: ‘Picasso and Prehistory’ (Paris)
Anniversary celebrations are inherently backward-looking. Why not go all the way? That’s the attitude that the Musée de l’Homme in Paris seems to have taken for its Picasso show, which centers on the influence that prehistoric art — ceramics, engravings, early paintings and drawings — had on Picasso’s work. Roughly 40 Picasso pieces, including “Woman Throwing a Stone,” a 1931 oil painting, are compared with artworks by prehistoric humans — the Picassos of the Stone Age. Open now, runs through June 12; museedelhomme.fr.
Musée Picasso: ‘Picasso Celebration: The Collection in a New Light’ (Paris)
The British fashion designer Paul Smith is the artistic director of this show, which emphasizes Picasso’s continued influence. Smith, with the curators Cécile Debray and Joanne Snrech, selected art from across Picasso’s career (including his early Blue Period “Self-Portrait” from 1901 and his 1942 found-object piece “Bull’s Head”) interspersed with works by the contemporary artists Guillermo Kuitca, Obi Okigbo, Mickalene Thomas and Chéri Samba. Open now, runs through Aug. 27; museepicassoparis.fr.
Museo Reina Sofía: ‘Picasso 1906: The Great Transformation’ (Madrid)
Like the Guggenheim, the Museo Reina Sofia (the permanent home of “Guernica”) in Madrid will zoom in on a single year in Picasso’s life. With a focus on drawings and sketchbooks, this show makes a case for 1906 as a transformational period in the artist’s career and, by extension, in the development of contemporary art. The year is considered the end of Picasso’s Rose Period, and included a chunk of time during which Picasso took a break from Paris and made a formative trip to the Catalan village of Gósol. Nov. 14 through March 4, 2024; museoreinasofia.es.
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
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