Art Agenda

Modernist masters and up-and-coming artists share the stage this month

Modernist masters and up-and-coming artists share the stage this month

NATURE MORTE/ STILL LIFE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART, KANSAS CITY AUGUST 2 TO FEBRUARY 4, 2018

The show explores still life as one of art’s most beloved subjects in the 19th and 20th centuries. On display are diverse renditions of the genre, from the impressionist style of Manet to the vivid figurative depictions of fruit and flowers favoured by Marc Chagall and the deconstructed floral subjects of Picasso. nelson-atkins.org

MATISSE IN THE STUDIO ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON AUGUST 5 TO NOVEMBER 12

Inviting the audience to “step into” the artist’s studio, the exhibition presents items from Matisse’s personal collection alongside the paintings, drawings and sculptures they inspired. Exhibits span African masks and textiles, Chinese calligraphy and objects from the Islamic world— each a major influence on Matisse’s practice throughout the decades. royalacademy.org.uk

GAME CHANGERS: INTERNATIONAL MODERNISM AUCKLAND ART GALLERY TOI O TAMAKI AUGUST 27 TO JUNE 17, 2018

Presenting masterpieces such as Claude Monet’s Le Pont Japonais next to artworks by Kiwi artists, the retrospective offers a comprehensive look at the rise and significance of modernist forms of art, from late 19th-century Europe to 21st-century New Zealand. aucklandartgallery.com

PRIMAVERA 2017: YOUNG AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY AUGUST 23 TO NOVEMBER 19

Now in its 26th edition, Primavera showcases works by Australian artists aged 35 and under. This year’s show, themed “Ancient Futures”, asks eight creatives to explore the relationship between nature and man-made, past and present, in relation to archives and collections. mca.com.au

PICASSO ON THE BEACH PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION, VENICE AUGUST 26 TO JANUARY 7, 2018

Ten drawings, three paintings and a sculpture made by Picasso between February and December 1937 are the subjects of this intimate exhibition, launched in collaboration with the Musée Picasso of Paris. The show is part of Picasso-méditerranée, an international initiative by more than 60 cultural institutions that focuses on the Mediterranean works of the Spanish artist. www.guggenheim-venice.it