Matisse: Drawing with Scissors & Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes Exhibition
2 February – 27 April 2019
This spring, two stunning exhibitions will combine to provide a spectacular, colourful show.
Matisse: Drawing with scissors
A Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition from the Southbank Centre, London
Henri Matisse was one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. His vibrant works are celebrated for their extraordinary richness and luminosity of colour and his spectacular paper cut-outs were his final triumph. This exhibition features 35 posthumous prints of the famous cut-outs that he produced in the last years of his life. It includes iconic images such as The Snail and the Blue Nudes.
Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes
A unique fabulous collection of costume and ephemera telling the stories of the Ballets Russes, the most spectacular and sometimes scandalous ballet company of the early 1900s. Never before seen together, the objects will pull visitors back to another era. Matisse was one of many artists commissioned to create costumes and scenery for the company, the exhibition also includes work by other great artists of the period including Dame Laura Knight.
Learn more at our special talks
27 February 2019: An audience with Professor Richard Edmonds, expert on Diaghilev & the Ballets Russes.
12 March 2019 (Sold Out) & 5 April 2019: Bite Size Talk: Introduction to Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes with exhibition curator Philippa Tinsley.
I would like to see the ‘Ballets Russes’ exhibition but I will have to travel from some distance. How big is the exhibition and how long will it take to visit? My husband (great great nephew of Laura Knight but with no artistic talent) will drive me, then walk our dog, so I should like to have some indication of time. Many thanks.
I had a lovely time at the museum today. Both exhibitions were real treats and the cake was amazing.
Thank you for a lovely comment Isobel. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the exhibitions, but we agree that cake is always the most important part of a day out!
Although the Ballets Russes exhibition occupies one and a half rooms, someone as keen on ballet as I am would need about an hour to look at the exhibits carefully. I was thrilled to see some of the items which were iconic in the history of ballet. Most of the material belonged to a private collector, with additional items on loan from other places. It is a blessing to have access to such wonderful items in the Midlands and I wish to thank the collector for sharing his treasures. The museum itself is pleasant with a balcony café and a little shop. Combining this exhibition with a visit to the great Cathedral and a riverside walk, made a most agreeable day out. For people travelling from further afield, perhaps for the weekend, another day could be spent in nearby Malvern.
Hello Louise, thank you for your comments and apologies for the delay in responding to you. It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed the exhibition so much, it really is a beautiful and comprehensive collection. We are delighted to be able to share it with the public. Hope to see you in Worcester again soon!