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Philadelphia Museum of Art exterior with Picasso flags (photo by M. McClellan)

In recent years, one of the things that the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become increasingly adept is the creation of exhibitions that are both accessible to those with art ambivalences and enchanting to established art lovers. The newest exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris, opens tomorrow and again, walks this line of appeal.

This show, orchestrated by PMA Curator of Modern Art Michael Taylor, brings together the work of Pablo Picasso during his most prolific years (1905 through 1945) with many of his Parisian contemporaries. Included are paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints by Picasso, Georges Braque (Picasso’s primary collaborator), Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Joan Míro, Constantin Brancusi and many more.

One of the joys of this exhibition is the fact that it puts on display many pieces of art that are often thought to be far too fragile to be part of the Museum’s regular collection. See these rarely viewed collages, photos and drawings makes me feel as if I’ve gone through the door marked, “No entry. Staff only.”

The entire exhibition is a treat, particularly the blazing red gallery about half way through the show. It’s been made to look like 1912 Salon d’ Automne, where many works by now-world renowned artists were first shown. It may take your eyes a moment to adjust to the red (the rest of the galleries are painted a neutral and art-flattering white), but please do spend several minutes absorbing all the immense beauty on display.

Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris
February 24 through April 25, 2010
Philadelphia Museum of Art