In a historic reunion that bridges the gap between European Modernism and Afro-Caribbean identity, Galerie Gmurzynska has announced a major exhibition dedicated to the intimate relationship between Pablo Picasso and Wifredo Lam.
Running from now through June 30, 2026, at the gallery’s iconic Fuller Building location on East 57th, the exhibition marks the first comprehensive exploration of the duo’s mentorship and friendship. The exhibition, titled to reflect their lifelong bond, follows the finissage of the Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) acclaimed retrospective, “Wifredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream,” and will include several key works previously seen at MoMA.
The story began in Paris in May 1938, when Lam, a Cuban artist of African and Chinese descent, arrived with a letter of introduction from Salvador Dalí. The meeting was instantaneous in its impact. Picasso famously recognized a kindred spirit in Lam, declaring: “Lam, I think that you have my blood in you; you must be one of my relatives, a primo, a cousin.”
While Picasso served as a mentor, the relationship was one of mutual respect. Picasso’s fascination with African art found a living contemporary in Lam, who would eventually use the tools of Modernism to embark on what he called an “act of decolonization.”
“What we thought was interesting was that there was never a show done on the two of them together [since 1939],” says Isabelle Bscher, the third-generation owner of Galerie Gmurzynska. “The last dedicated two-man exhibition was at the Perls Gallery in New York in 1939. It was Lam’s first show in America.”
The exhibition will feature approximately 50 works spanning 1918 to 1978, including paintings, frescos, ceramics, and collages.
Highlighting the breadth of their careers, the Picasso selection includes two rare frescos from his 1918 honeymoon in Biarritz, as well as oil paintings from the 1940s that showcase his lifelong engagement with “primitive” arts. For Lam, the centerpiece is a rare Étude pour La Jungle (1943), alongside masterpieces from his estate and selections from his personal collection of indigenous art.
The venue itself holds historical weight. Between 1940 and 1946, the two artists frequently exhibited together at the Pierre Matisse Gallery, which was housed in the very same Fuller Building where Galerie Gmurzynska now stands.
In a contemporary twist, the exhibition will feature a fashion component highlighting Lam’s enduring influence on Caribbean creators. Rachel Scott, the Jamaican-born creative director of the brand Diotima and a recipient of the prestigious LVMH Prize in 2023, has collaborated with the Lam estate to create a collection inspired by his work.
“A lot of the pieces are jungle-inspired, much like Lam’s paintings,” Bscher explains. “His work couldn’t be more poignant today.” Several of Scott’s fashion pieces, featuring prints derived from Lam’s canvases, will be on display alongside the artworks.
To cement the historical importance of the event, Galerie Gmurzynska will release a 350-page scholarly volume. Featuring new research by experts such as Jérôme Neutres and archival materials never before published, the book is the first major publication to focus exclusively on the Picasso-Lam dialogue.
Isabelle Bscher, an art historian who took the helm of the gallery founded by her grandmother, sees this show as a continuation of the gallery’s mission to champion Modernist masters. Having grown up in the art world—joking that she “learned to walk at Art Basel”—Bscher has curated major shows for the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Joan Miró. This upcoming exhibition, however, feels particularly personal.
“Lam really met most of the 20th century’s greatest artists,” Bscher says. “But his relationship with Picasso was foundational. Bringing them back together in the Fuller Building, where they once showed during the 1940s, is a full-circle moment for art history.”
“Lam/Picasso” runs from April 23 to June 30, 2026 at Galerie Gmurzynska, Fuller Building, 595 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York City. Visit gmurzynska.com for more information.
Photo credits: Top image, Isabelle Bscher, Diana Picasso, Ulla Parker, Vikram Chatwal, Photo Credit Michael Ostuni PMC. Second image, Isabelle Bscher by Gilles Bensimon, third photo, Isabelle Bscher by Udo Spreitzenbarth.
