Explore the Gesture and Matter Modern Art Exhibition at Centre Pompidou Málaga

This exhibition explores the rise of gestural abstraction in the post-WWII era, a period where artists sought to break from tradition through spontaneous technique and exploration of material. Spanning two decades, it highlights the international development of this movement across Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Following the trauma of the Second World War, artists in Paris and beyond embraced a new form of abstraction that prioritized the physical act of painting and the expressive power of material. By rejecting figurative forms and geometric rigidities, these painters sought to begin from a state of total artistic freedom. The exhibition traces how Paris shared the stage with New York, creating an international network of exchange that welcomed artists from diverse backgrounds, including Japan and China, to participate in this radical reinvention of the medium. The exhibition is organized into thematic sections that examine key aspects of the movement, such as the 'art autre' movement led by critic Michel Tapié, the impact of trans-Atlantic exchanges between New York and Paris, and the symbolic power of the color black in works by artists like Pierre Soulages. It also highlights the influence of Eastern aesthetics on Western abstract painters and the evolution of the movement through the 1950s and early 1960s, concluding with works that bridge the gap between gesture and later minimalist practices.

Official visitor brochures are available for download in English, Spanish, and French directly from the exhibition page. Please consult the Centre Pompidou Málaga website for full details on museum admission and visiting policies.