Matisse and the Sea

Running from Feb. 17 to May 12, Matisse and the Sea is the first exhibition to examine the significance of the sea across Modernist artist Henri Matisse’s career, which included artwork in coastal locations on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Marine imagery was an important catalyst for Matisse’s artistic experimentation – most notably in the Saint Louis Art Museum’s own iconic painting Bathers with a Turtle.

The exhibition includes imagery ranging from Matisse’s early panoramic marine views in the South of France to his late paper cutouts, representing life beneath the waves, which were inspired by his visit to Tahiti in 1930. It offers an opportunity to explore the artist’s travel across his career as well as the global influences that informed his art, particularly African sculptures and masks.

Matisse and the Sea will include a wide range of works in many media, including paintings, sculptures, paper cutouts, drawings, prints, ceramics and textiles, accompanied by a scholarly exhibition catalogue.