Looking Closer

27.5.25 - 26.10.25

Motifs, perspectives, techniques... You are invited to a closer encounter with artistic ideation and the process of creation, when Louisiana presents a large selection of works on paper from the museum's own collection. With a range from Pablo Picasso to Amy Sillman these works span a century, from 1921 until today.

For a number of years, Louisiana has presented a large number of artists in the ‘On Paper’ format, a series of exhibitions focusing on artists’ drawings, graphics and other works on paper. Most often, these exhibitions have been intimate and intense experiences that have presented an opportunity of taking a closer look at the creative processes and working methods of artists.

Pablo Picasso, Les Baigneuses, 1921.

Kiki Kogelnik, Untitled (figure, bomb and globe), ca. 1963.

Now, however, we turn the "On Paper gaze" towards the museum's own rich collection of works on paper, which are presented here in a series of focused and highly varied sections. The works range from Pablo Picasso's 'Baigneuses' (Bathing Women) from 1921 to new acquisitions from the past couple of years such as Amy Sillmans ‘Albatross’ from 2024.

Louise Bourgeois, Dissymmétrie is Tolerated if not Encouraged, 2002

The selection is divided into 22 groupings that range widely in form, style, expression and tone. The focus of a grouping could be on the significance of adding a horizon line to an image, or on how male desire shines through – more or less obviously – through the choice of subject.

A CLEARER FOCUS

David Hockney, Charcoal drawing for 'A Closer Grand Canyon', 1998

Jonathan Borofsky, Untitled #2

Looking at drawings often calls for a more attentive viewing, but this presentation is also intended in a broader sense as an optic, where periods, chronology and styles are disregarded.

Instead, themes emerge all the more clearly shining light on fundamental insights associated with working on paper.

David Hockney, Celia, Mamounia Hotel, 1971

Current Exhibitions

Cleaning the Drapes, photomontage from Martha Roslerr House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, ca. 1967-72.

Yayoi Kusama, Gleaming Lights of the Souls,