Pablo Picasso, born in Málaga, Spain in 1881, spent his early years surrounded by art. His father, a painter and art professor, recognised Picasso’s talent at a young age and nurtured his creative development. By the time he was a teenager, Picasso had moved to Barcelona, where he became immersed in the city’s avant-garde scene. Picasso briefly attended The Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, but he disliked the structured teaching and withdrew from formal instruction. In 1904, Picasso relocated to Paris, then the heart of the art world, and quickly became a leading figure in modern European art.

Picasso’s career was defined by his prolific production and constant reinvention, from the melancholic Blue and Rose periods to the revolutionary invention of Cubism with Georges Braque, a movement that shattered traditional perspectives on form and space. His work, whether painting, sculpture, printmaking or ceramics, explored themes of war, love, and politics, with the famous anti-war painting Guernica (1937) standing as one of his most iconic and powerful statements. He was also known for costume and theatre set design.

Picasso is probably the most important and celebrated artist of the 20^th century, and his impact and influence on art remains unparalleled. He continued working until his death in 1973 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy that forever changed the course of modern art.

Artworks by Picasso can be found in most public art collections throughout Europe and in leading art collections worldwide.