This new show is set to transport visitors into the vibrant work of the pioneering 20th Century artist Henri Matisse, opening in King’s Cross on 27th January 2027.
The Lightroom and the makers behind David Hockney: Bigger & Closer, Matisse: Joy will
bring the artist’s groundbreaking work to life like never before.
Matisse: Joy will see guests being completely immersed in paintings such as Joy of Life and The Dance, with its whirling, ecstatic energy; the playful shapes and joyful colours of The Snail; and the serene, transcendent simplicity of the Blue Nudes.
Showing from the 27th January 2027, the show explores Matisse’ joy in making and his determined relentless search for self-expression over more than 60 years of working practice. His paper cut-outs are celebrated as the extraordinary reinvention that they are: a radical re-approach to colour, line and movement discovered at the very end of his life.
From intimate photography of the man at work to a recreation of the breathtaking Matisse
Chapel in Vence, Lightroom’s unique canvas of 11m high, 360° projection creates an
unprecedented chance to see the works up close in astonishing detail, vibrancy and scale. For
lifelong fans and those discovering Matisse for the very first time alike, Matisse: Joy represents a new opportunity to experience the work of one of the 20th Century’s greatest artists, accompanied by voice-over drawn from Matisse’s own writings: diaries, letters, notebooks and journals.
In addition, Matisse: Joy will also present artwork by British-Nigerian
multi-disciplinary artist and designer, Yinka Ilori MBE, including a new piece created especially for Lightroom. Known for his bold, colourful visual language, rooted in his dual heritage, Ilori has been hailed as the “Architect of Joy.”
Director Tom Wexler said: “It was important for us to create a show that honours Matisse’s rigour and innovation whilst celebrating how accessible his art is. With Yinka Ilori’s stunning
contributions, I feel we’ve created something truly inclusive for all ages; a story about pushing the expressive limits of visual art, and rendering emotions in pure colour.”
The visuals of the show are complimented by an energetic sound track and sound design by
Sound Designer Pippa Murphy (Tracey Emin – A Second Life, Tate Modern), with Yinka Ilori’s
sections featuring music selected by composer, sound artist and curator Peter Adjaye
(Dialogues – Music for Architecture).
For more information visit: https://lightroom.uk/whats-on/matisse-joy/?tx_inline_iframe=%2Fdate-selection&tx_sessionDataId=bb5b5aa5-0428-4995-808c-929ae700ddfc