Hannah Gadsby's Pablo Picasso-Themed Art Exhibit Opens in June

Consider, for a moment, an art show curated by comedian Hannah Gadsby at the Brooklyn Museum in response to the life and work of Pablo Picasso. No, that’s not the result of an especially culturally savvy version of Mad Libs; instead, it’s an exhibit slated to take place from June to September 2023. It’s one of a number of events taking place around the world this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death.

This is less of a left-field curatorial choice than it seems. Gadsby has memorably spoken about Picasso’s life and art in their own routine, including both criticism of his treatment of women and appreciation for the role he played in art history.

ARTnews has more details on the Brooklyn Museum exhibition, to be titled It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby. The exhibit is slated to open on June 2, and runs through September 24. Viewers can expect around 100 works of art, some by Picasso’s contemporaries and others by artists who had strong critiques of Picasso. Plus, you know, Pablo Picasso himself.

Dozens of Museums Prepare for Picassopalooza in 2023

To mark the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death, a variety of exhibits around the world will revisit his life and work

The Brooklyn Museum’s own description of the exhibit states that it “examines the artist’s complicated legacy through a critical, contemporary, and feminist lens, even as it acknowledges his work’s transformative power and lasting influence.” It should spark plenty of discussion — an excellent thing for art to do. And it might just change how you view Picasso and his work.