Nahmad Contemporary

Nahmad Contemporary Art gallery founded by Joseph Nahmad in 2013 presenting historically-focused exhibitions from leadin

Francis Picabia, born on January 22, 1879, was a true rule-breaker of the art world—always pushing boundaries and reinve...
01/22/2025

Francis Picabia, born on January 22, 1879, was a true rule-breaker of the art world—always pushing boundaries and reinventing himself. From abstract compositions to his bold Dada experiments and provocative figurative works, Picabia refused to be confined by a single style or movement.

A pioneer of modern art, Picabia’s career spanned decades of fearless experimentation, blending influences from Cubism, Surrealism, and even kitsch. His fearless approach challenged conventions, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire artists today.

Picabia reminds us that art doesn’t have to fit into a box—it can be as daring, disruptive, and unexpected as the artist who creates it.

Swipe for a look back at Picabia’s painting “Rubi,” 1929, from our booth at Art Basel Paris.
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Joan Miró (1893-1983) described “The Birth of the World” as “a sort of genesis”—an abstract portrayal of life’s origins....
01/21/2025

Joan Miró (1893-1983) described “The Birth of the World” as “a sort of genesis”—an abstract portrayal of life’s origins. Created in 1925, the work combines spontaneity and precision. Miró poured, flung, and brushed paint across an unevenly primed canvas, allowing the paint to soak into some areas while resting on the surface in others. Over this free-flowing foundation, he carefully layered symbols and forms, including a bird, a shooting star, and a figure with a white head.

These elements feel familiar yet resist logical interpretation, existing instead in a dreamlike realm. Miró’s process, which blended unconscious experimentation with deliberate calculation, is reflected in the painting’s dynamic energy. As he once explained, “The first stage is free, unconscious.… The second stage is carefully calculated.” This balance between chance and control defines the poetic tension in “The Birth of the World.”

“The Birth of the World” is on view at MoMA in The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries.
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Joan Miró, “The Birth of the World” Montroig, late summer-fall 1925. Peter Barritt / Alamy Stock Photo

Alexander Calder revolutionized modern sculpture with his mobiles, transforming abstract forms into kinetic art animated...
01/17/2025

Alexander Calder revolutionized modern sculpture with his mobiles, transforming abstract forms into kinetic art animated by air and motion.

Nahmad Contemporary is pleased to present “Calder in Flight: As Seen by Edward Enninful,” a groundbreaking exhibition opening on February 11 at Tarmak22 in Gstaad, Switzerland. Enriched with the perspective of leading creative voice Edward Enninful, the exhibition is presented at the distinct location of Tarmak22, where Calder’s works are set in dialogue with the striking atmosphere alongside the tarmac where aircraft take flight in vivid displays of aerodynamics.

Spanning five decades of Calder’s career, the exhibition highlights a connection between Calder’s kinetic works and the world of aviation, both mediated by the artful manipulation of invisible forces. From foundational works like “Black Disc with Flags” (c. 1939) to late masterpieces like “Crag with Petals and Yellow Cascade” (1974), these sculptures—composed of painted industrial sheet metal, wire, and rods—capture the artist’s intuitive mastery of motion and design.

Accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with text by Enninful, “Calder in Flight” reflects on the interplay between art and aviation, balance and movement, history and innovation.

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©️ 2025 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Some artists capture a moment in time with elegance and modernity.Marie Laurencin’s “In The Park,” on view at the Nation...
01/10/2025

Some artists capture a moment in time with elegance and modernity.

Marie Laurencin’s “In The Park,” on view at the National Gallery of Art as part of the Chester Dale Collection, reflects her unique voice within early 20th-century modernism. Laurencin’s work often blends delicate forms, soft pastels, and subtle abstraction to depict Laurencin’s (1883-1956) contemporaries and collaborators, including Picasso and Apollinaire, with whom she shared close ties.

Laurencin’s poetic approach to portraiture reimagined traditional representations, making her a vital figure in the Cubist movement and beyond.
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Marie Laurencin, “In the Park,” 1924. Oil on canvas.

Some artworks remain as vibrant and groundbreaking today as when they were first created.Henri Matisse’s Jazz series, pu...
01/08/2025

Some artworks remain as vibrant and groundbreaking today as when they were first created.

Henri Matisse’s Jazz series, published in 1947 as a limited-edition book, revolutionized modern printmaking with its bold use of cut paper, color, and movement. Featuring iconic pieces like “The Clown” and “The Sword Swallower,” this collection showcases Matisse’s late-career innovation and his ability to capture the essence of improvisation and spontaneity.

From January 25 through July 6, 2025, the de Young Museum will present “Matisse: Jazz Unbound,” an exhibition dedicated to exploring the vibrancy and innovation of this groundbreaking series, including a rare unbound copy of Jazz recently acquired by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.



“The Clown (Le clown),” 1947. Image by Henri Matisse (1869-1954), courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Museum purchase, gift of Margaret and William R. Hearst III. ©️ 2024 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Randy Dodson.

“The Nightmare of the White Elephant (Le cauchemar de l’elephant blanc).”Image by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) 1947. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, museum purchase, gift of Margaret and William R. Hearst III. © 2024 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Photograph by Randy Dodson, courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Albert Oehlen’s “Untitled” (1988), part of MoMA’s collection and now on view on floor 2, exemplifies the artist’s fearle...
01/03/2025

Albert Oehlen’s “Untitled” (1988), part of MoMA’s collection and now on view on floor 2, exemplifies the artist’s fearless approach to abstraction. Layered with expressive brushstrokes, erratic lines, and bursts of vibrant color, the painting defies traditional composition, creating a raw and visceral energy that challenges the viewer’s expectations.

Known as a pioneer of “post-nonrepresentational” painting, Oehlen often combines the chaos of freeform gestures with deliberate interventions. His process is rooted in experimentation, blending elements of abstraction, figuration, and digital manipulation to push the boundaries of painting as a medium.

In “Untitled,” Oehlen’s layered approach reflects his commitment to exploring imperfection, chance, and the unexpected. Each mark and color seems to wrestle with the next, resulting in a dynamic tension that captures the essence of his radical vision.


As the new year begins, we look back at milestones that define the journey.  In 2018, “Five Years at Nahmad Contemporary...
01/02/2025

As the new year begins, we look back at milestones that define the journey.

In 2018, “Five Years at Nahmad Contemporary” chronicled the gallery’s exhibitions since its founding in 2013, showcasing 20 works that captured its vision. Featuring icons like Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Richard Prince, and Pablo Picasso, the exhibition honored the artists, lenders, and friends who shaped this milestone.

Each piece reflected a past show—from solo presentations to thematic and cross-generational dialogues—celebrating moments in art history that have altered the course of artistic production.



Images by

What happens when color and rhythm collide? Explore the bold innovations of Francis Picabia in “Harmony and Dissonance: ...
12/27/2024

What happens when color and rhythm collide? Explore the bold innovations of Francis Picabia in “Harmony and Dissonance: Orphism in Paris, 1910–1930,” now on view at the Guggenheim. A trailblazer of modernism, Picabia’s works pulse with energy, capturing the movement’s fascination with abstraction and light. His work “Edtaonisl (Ecclesiastic)” captivates with its layered interplay of abstraction and symbolic references.

This vibrant exhibition places Picabia’s groundbreaking art alongside works by Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Kupka, and more, revealing how Orphism redefined color, form, and harmony in the early 20th century.



Francis Picabia, “Edtaonisl (Ecclesiastic) (Edtaonisl [Ecclésiastique]),” 1913. Oil on canvas, 118 × 118 in. (299.7 × 299.7 cm). The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Armand Bartos, 1953. © 2024 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Photo: The Art Institute of Chicago / Art Resource, NY

Wade Guyton’s “Untitled” (2006) is currently on view at MoMA, offering a compelling glimpse into his innovative approach...
12/24/2024

Wade Guyton’s “Untitled” (2006) is currently on view at MoMA, offering a compelling glimpse into his innovative approach to contemporary art. Created by folding linen and running it through an inkjet printer, the work features repeated black X’s that dominate the surface, their imperfections revealing the tension between digital precision and the unpredictability of the handmade.

This piece is emblematic of Guyton’s practice, which reimagines the traditional roles of painting and printmaking. By using digital tools to create tactile, large-scale works, he challenges the boundaries of medium and material, raising questions about authorship, process, and the nature of art in a digital age.
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Wade Guyton. Untitled. 2006. Fund for the Twenty-First Century. 162.2007 © Wade Guyton.

David Hammons’s exploration of materiality and cultural symbolism took center stage in “Basketball & Kool-Aid,” an exhib...
12/21/2024

David Hammons’s exploration of materiality and cultural symbolism took center stage in “Basketball & Kool-Aid,” an exhibition at Nahmad Contemporary in 2021. Featuring over 30 works, the show brought together two defining series by Hammons: the Basketball drawings (1995-2012) and the Kool-Aid paintings (2003-2007).

The Basketball drawings captured the impressions of basketballs marked with pigment on handmade paper, transforming an everyday object into a dynamic exploration of abstraction. The Kool-Aid paintings used the powdered drink mix to create vivid, textured surfaces, infusing playful materiality with cultural critique.

Looking back, this exhibition highlighted Hammons’s unmatched ability to challenge artistic conventions and elevate ordinary materials into profound reflections on culture and meaning.




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Jonas Wood’s “Ovitz’s Library” (2013) transforms the private library of renowned Los Angeles art collector Michael Ovitz...
12/19/2024

Jonas Wood’s “Ovitz’s Library” (2013) transforms the private library of renowned Los Angeles art collector Michael Ovitz into a kaleidoscopic vision of pattern, color, and perspective. Bookshelves zigzag through the composition, a staircase shoots skyward, and an Alexander Calder mobile adds a playful rhythm. Wood captures the energy of the space while distorting it, blending order with the chaos of memory.

Known for his vibrant depictions of interiors and domestic spaces, Wood’s layered process—photographs, collages, and drawings—creates his signature flattened perspectives and multiple viewpoints. His work bridges the personal and the abstract, turning everyday spaces into charged psychological portraits.

In “Ovitz’s Library,” part of the collection, the space becomes a reflection of its owner, where art, books, and design tell a story about identity and taste. Wood’s inventive approach offers a striking meditation on how the places we inhabit define who we are.




Jonas Wood, “Ovitz’s Library”. 2013. Image courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation.

Happy birthday to Paul Klee, the legendary artist who transformed modern art with his vibrant imagination and groundbrea...
12/18/2024

Happy birthday to Paul Klee, the legendary artist who transformed modern art with his vibrant imagination and groundbreaking ideas. Known for blending color, abstraction, and music, Klee’s works evoke a poetic balance of playfulness and depth. As a key figure of the Bauhaus, he helped shape a new era of art and design, inspiring generations with his innovative teachings and timeless creations.

Ten of Klee’s works were recently featured in MoMA’s “Bauhaus and Beyond,” an exhibition of MoMA’s collection that celebrated the influence of the Bauhaus movement. Highlights included “Mask of Fear (1932), a haunting exploration of surreal tension, Fire in the Evening (1929), with its glowing, atmospheric palette, and the iconic Twittering Machine (1922), a playful yet unsettling depiction of mechanical birds.

Klee’s ability to turn everyday subjects into powerful, symbolic compositions solidifies his place as one of modern art’s most enduring figures.




Images:
December 20, 1949–February 19, 1950.
Photographic Archive. The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York. IN433.1

Paul Klee. “Twittering Machine (Die Zwitscher-Maschine)”. 1922.
Paul Klee. “The Angler (Der Angler)”. 1921.
Paul Klee. “Actor’s Mask”. 1924.

Photograph of the artist himself from the Albers material in the
M.M.A. Library,” associated with the exhibition, “Paul Klee.” December 20, 1949–February 19, 1950. Photographic Archive. The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York. IN433.4

Happy birthday to Wassily Kandinsky, the revolutionary artist who forever changed the way we see and feel art! The Gugge...
12/16/2024

Happy birthday to Wassily Kandinsky, the revolutionary artist who forever changed the way we see and feel art! The Guggenheim’s 2021 exhibition, “Vasily Kandinsky: Around the Circle,” celebrated his trailblazing career with a unique twist—starting from his late works and tracing back to his earliest experiments. This captivating journey revealed the spiritual energy, musicality, and daring innovation that defined his vision of abstraction.

Born in Moscow in 1866, Kandinsky left behind a career in law to pursue his true passion for art. Inspired by Russian folk traditions, Impressionism, and the emotional power of music, he sought to create “visual symphonies” that stirred the soul. As a founder of the Blue Rider movement and a key figure at the Bauhaus, Kandinsky became a force of creativity, crafting a vibrant new language of form and color.

“Around the Circle” gave audiences a rare chance to experience Kandinsky’s works in a fresh light. From the luminous abstractions of his final years to the bold, figurative beginnings of his career, the exhibition revealed how his quest to connect art, emotion, and spirituality shaped one of the most influential legacies in modern art.

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Antoni Tàpies didn’t just paint—he transformed everyday materials into profound works of art. Born on December 13 in Bar...
12/13/2024

Antoni Tàpies didn’t just paint—he transformed everyday materials into profound works of art. Born on December 13 in Barcelona, Antoni Tàpies’s birthday invites us to reflect on his unparalleled ability to push the boundaries of abstraction and materiality.

In 2017, Nahmad Contemporary presented “Tàpies: Paintings, 1970–2003,” an exhibition exploring the last four decades of his career. This era marked a shift in his practice, as he embraced a sculptural approach to painting with textured surfaces described as a “language of raw monasticism.” Drawing on his Spanish-Catholic heritage, Tàpies merged religious symbolism with humble materials, challenging traditional notions of art and existence.

By revisiting this landmark exhibition, we’re reminded of Tàpies’s enduring legacy as an artist who saw limitless possibilities in the everyday.

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Images:

Aixeta (Tap), 2003, Oil, sand, cement, and faucet on wood panel, 51 1/8 x 63 3/4 in. (130 x 162 cm.) © 2017 Comissió Tàpies / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid

TÀPIES: PAINTINGS, 1970-2003 at Nahmad Contemporary. Image by .

Escuma i Fustes (Foam and Wood), 1986, Foam, twine, and mixed media on wood panel, 98 3/8 x 108 1/4 in. (250 x 275 cm.) © 2017 Comissió Tàpies / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid

Door-Wall, 1970, Sand and mixed media on canvas, 63 3/4 x 51 1/4 in. (162 x 130 cm.) © 2017 Comissió Tàpies / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid

TÀPIES: PAINTINGS, 1970-2003 at Nahmad Contemporary. Image by .

Before Andy Warhol made soup cans iconic, he was hand-drawing elegant shoes. His “December Shoes” series (1955–56) offer...
12/12/2024

Before Andy Warhol made soup cans iconic, he was hand-drawing elegant shoes. His “December Shoes” series (1955–56) offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s early fascination with consumer culture, blending refined linework with a touch of whimsy.

Created during his years as a commercial illustrator, these drawings celebrate the beauty of everyday objects—a passion that would later define his groundbreaking career. The playful, delicate renderings showcase Warhol’s craftsmanship long before silkscreens and celebrity portraits entered the frame.

As December enters full swing, these works remind us of Warhol’s ability to transform the everyday into something extraordinary.




Image: Andy Warhol with advertising portfolio, 1950s. Source: Public Domain, via Wikimedia.

Two winters ago, Richard Prince’s “Just My Luck” touched down at  in the Gstaad Airport. Through the  , we’re revisiting...
12/10/2024

Two winters ago, Richard Prince’s “Just My Luck” touched down at in the Gstaad Airport.

Through the , we’re revisiting the thought-provoking exhibition presented by Nahmad Contemporary from February 17 to March 10, 2022. The exhibition debuted Prince’s latest “Just My Luck” (2021) series, featuring hand-written charcoal inscriptions of Rodney Dangerfield’s iconic joke, “Just my luck. I was at the airport when my ship came in.” These works mark a shift in Prince’s approach, blending humor with a subtle critique of originality and authorship.

Building on his legacy of appropriation, Prince reimagines his Joke Paintings, transitioning from silk-screened texts to large, raw canvases that highlight the artist’s hand. While the repeated joke suggests uniformity, the unique nuances of each inscription reveal Prince’s presence, creating a dialogue between the recycled and the personal.




Images by Julian Gremaud

“Art is not the application of a canon of beauty, but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon,” Pa...
12/07/2024

“Art is not the application of a canon of beauty, but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon,” Pablo Picasso reflected in a 1935 interview for “Cahiers d’Art.”

This vision comes to life in “Bouteille, Guitare, Compotier” (1922), where everyday objects—bottles, guitars, and fruit dishes—are transformed into a striking interplay of fragmented forms and bold textures. Through this oil on canvas, Picasso invites viewers to see the familiar anew, challenging traditional notions of beauty and representation.

The work is on view as part of presentation at Miami Beach, booth J5, through Sunday, December 8.

Winter’s quiet elegance takes shape in Alexander Calder’s “Snow Flurry,” a delicate mobile that captures the essence of ...
12/04/2024

Winter’s quiet elegance takes shape in Alexander Calder’s “Snow Flurry,” a delicate mobile that captures the essence of snow drifting through the air. First conceived in 1948, Calder created at least seven variations of this work between 1948 and 1959, each showcasing his mastery of balance and motion. Made of painted metal and wire, “Snow Flurry” transforms static sculpture into a dynamic interplay of light, shadow, and movement.

Calder’s mobiles were groundbreaking in their time, redefining sculpture as something kinetic and alive. Each element of the mobile floats and shifts with the surrounding air, evoking the quiet beauty of falling snow and reflecting Calder’s innovative approach to form and space.

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Images:
Slide 1: Calder with Snow Flurry (1948), Saché, 1963
Photograph by Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs
Slide 2: © 2024 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / MoMA
Slide 3: Calder with Snow Flurry I (1948), Roxbury, 1952
Photograph by Gordon Parks
Slide 4: © 2024 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / MoMA
Slide 5: Installation view of the exhibition “A Salute to Alexander Calder.” The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York. IN916.7. Photograph by James Mathews.

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