Leonor Fini: the Argentine-born surrealist painter is on display at Paris's Musée d'Art Moderne

While the Musée du Luxembourg has dedicated a beautiful exhibition to the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, the Musée d'art moderne de Paris will spotlight the work of another surrealist painter: Leonor Fini.

Born August 30, 1907, in Buenos Aires, and who died January 18, 1996, in Aubervilliers, Leonor Fini enjoyed substantial commercial success on Paris's postwar scene. Yet her art still awaits wider recognition. That is exactly what the Musée d'art moderne de Paris offers, as it teams up with the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt to mount a major exhibition devoted to the work of Leonor Fini.

Leonor Fini, shaped by Italian Mannerism and French Symbolism, was best known for her close friendships with Max Ernst, Paul Éluard and Victor Brauner. The painter even spent part of the summer of 1939 with Ernst and Leonora Carrington at their house in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. 

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From March 26 to August 15, 2027, the Musée d'art moderne de Paris will cast a new light on the work of this Argentine-born artist by presenting about 200 of her works, some of which have never been shown before, it was announced. For a little over four months, the public will be able to dive into the artist’s career and trace her evolution, thanks to paintings, drawings, photographs, masks, and objects on view for the occasion. The exhibition features pieces that highlight themes dear to the artist, such as sphinxes, narcissi, fairies, chimeras, bacchantes, witches, and minerals.

For years now, Leonor Fini has been drawing interest from collectors and cultural institutions alike. If you’re not familiar with her work yet—or simply want to rediscover her pieces—head to the Musée d'art moderne de Paris from March 26 to August 15, 2027.