An exhibition honouring the celebrated Chinese-French abstract artist Zao Wou-ki will open at M+ towards the end of this year. Tentatively titled Zao Wou-Ki: Graphic Works, this will be Asia’s first major retrospective of his works as one of the greatest abstract artists of the mid- and late-twentieth century.
Co-curated by M+ and the Zao Wou-ki Foundation, this exhibition offers a close look at Zao’s printmaking practice from 1949 to 2000, showcasing more than 200 works including prints, illustrated books, paintings, works on paper, and more. A large part of the show comprises works donated to M+ by Zao’s wife and president of the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation, Françoise Marquet-Zao, as well as a selection donated by his daughter Sin-May Roy Zao.
Zao’s paintings are famous worldwide but his works in the printmaking media are equally as significant and inextricably connected to his canvas pieces. After all, it was prints that were the catalyst for his experiments in the genre of abstraction, and a practice that gave him techniques which he incorporated into his works for the rest of his career. Visitors can view significant works by Zao including Lecture by Henri Michaux (1950), Piazza Siena (1951), and In Honour of the Picture and of Poetry (1976).
This retrospective exhibition will run from December 13 to April 2026. Further details and ticketing information will be released closer to its opening.
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