Picasso: Beauty and Drama – world premiere exhibition Macau

  Over 140 Original Works Debut in Macau

“Picasso: Beauty and Drama,” the world premiere exhibition has officially opened at The Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau [July 20, 2025]. Presented by SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) it is one of the highlights of “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025.”

The exhibition, which will run from now until October 26, 2025, is co-organized by SJM and the Museo Casa Natal Picasso with assistance from the Agencia Pública para la Gestión de la Casa Natal de Pablo Ruiz Picasso y otros Equipamentos Museísticos y Culturales and the Ayuntamiento de Málaga. It will feature over 140 original works by Pablo Picasso, including paintings, prints, ceramics, manuscripts, and illustrations.

The exhibition offers a close-up look at one of the greatest artists of the 20th century as it examines Picasso’s changing ideas of beauty and the emotional drama of his personal life through this remarkable collection. SJM’s continuous dedication to enhancing Macau’s tourism offers through cultural showcases and furthering the integration of “Art + Tourism” in the city’s development is further demonstrated by the exhibition.

Ms. Leong Wai Man, Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government said: “‘Art Macao,’ an international arts festival jointly created by the SAR Government and various sectors, serves as both a platform for cultural exchange and a catalyst for the city’s innovative development,” she continued. “Its success reflects the unwavering support of all stakeholders. SJM’s longstanding commitment to arts and culture has significantly enriched Macao’s urban landscape with an international vision and creative curation, elevating the city’s global artistic reputation.”

“SJM is proud to continue its support of ‘Art Macao’ and to work alongside the Macao SAR Government in advancing the high-quality development of the city’s cultural sector,” said Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM. “To truly realise the vision of ‘shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism’, we must continue to build rich and multidimensional experiences that give equal weight to cultural preservation and international exchange. This exhibition exemplifies meaningful cross-cultural collaboration and resonates with our longstanding efforts to promote Chinese cultural heritage. It also underscores Macau’s unique East-meets- West character and reflects SJM’s active role in driving the city’s cultural development.”

Mr. Mario Virgilio Montañez, Jefe del Negociado de Promocion Cultural en Museo Casa Natal Picasso; Mr. Cyro Garcia, artist from Malaga, Spain; Ms. Leong Wai Man, Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM; Mr. Luis Lafuente, Director of the Agencia Pública para la Gestión de la Casa Natal de Pablo Ruiz Picasso y otros Equipamientos Museísticos y Culturales

About The Exhibition

In keeping with Art Macao 2025’s theme of “Hey, what brings you here?” “Picasso: Beauty and Drama” traces the artist’s development over the course of his career and in a variety of media, providing unique insight into his emotional landscape and deep ties to his native Andalusia. The ceramic masterpiece “Knight and Horse,” the tender portrait of his five-year-old daughter “Paloma with Doll, Black Background,” the painting “Figure in Striped Bodice,” which was created for his partner, and the reimagining of the artist’s studio “Painter with Brush and Model with Headscarf” are among the featured pieces.

Pablo Picasso, Figure with the Striped Bodice, 1949. © Succession Picasso 2025. © Museo Casa Natal Picasso

Pablo Picasso, Paloma with her Doll, Black Background, 1952. © Succession Picasso 2025. © Museo Casa Natal Picasso

Pablo Picasso, Cavalier and Horse,1952. © Succession Picasso 2025. © Museo Casa Natal Picasso

The exhibition is organised into seven thematic galleries:

1. Beauty – Challenges and redefines classical ideals of beauty. Picasso once said, “Art is the most beautiful of all lies.”
2. Myths – Reinterprets ancient narratives through a modern lens, embracing Picasso’s belief that “good artists copy; great artists steal.”
3. Bulls – Explores the symbolic role of bullfighting in Spanish identity and the artist’s emotional response to his homeland.
4. Women – Pays homage to the influential women in Picasso’s life, whose presence shaped his creative and emotional journeys.
5. Ceramics – Highlights his later-life exploration in ceramics, turning everyday vessels into works of art guided by the philosophy: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
6. Techniques – Showcases his relentless experimentation across etching, printmaking and mixed media, echoing his reflection: “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”
7. Top Ten – Features ten quintessential works that encapsulate Picasso’s artistic genius, familial devotion, love for tradition and irreverent wit.

An interactive area at the end of the show invites viewers to revisit the Art Macao 2025 topic. “Hey, why have you come here?” Through themed installations, artists are embracing Picasso’s essence and moving from being passive observers to active creators:

•  Mirror Room: Warped reflections inspire self-discovery and artistic expression via group sketches or self-portraits.
• Where Are You Going? Four life pathways are shown symbolically, inspiring visitors to pursue their passions, much as Picasso did throughout his career.

Exhibition Details:

Dates: 20 July to 26 October 2025

Venue: Shop 220, Level 2, Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (South Entrance)

Opening Hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 11 m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday: 11 m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10 m. to 9 p.m.

• Last admission: One hour before closing

Guided Tours: Available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin

Website:  https://www.ticketing.sjmresorts.com/picasso-beauty-n-drama

Picture Source: SJM Resorts, S.A.