Henri Matisse – Alex Katz: The Silence of Painting at the Musée Matisse in Nice brings together the work of two artists, separated by generations but connected by a shared interest in the simplification of form and economy of means. Conceived in collaboration with Alex Katz following his visit to the museum in 2024, the exhibition places works from Katz’s studio in dialogue with Matisse’s, offering a contemporary perspective on the museum’s collection.

Spanning more than seven decades of Katz’s practice, the presentation features paintings, drawings, collages and prints, from Nude (1951) to Lilies 13 (2025). The exhibition explores the connections between the two artists and highlights the enduring relevance of Matisse’s work through a contemporary lens. 

Curated by: Aymeric Jeudy, director of the Musée Matisse Nice and associate researcher at the Centre for the Modern and Contemporary Mediterranean (University of Nice Côte d’Azur)