Galerie Lelong in Paris is presenting 'Paula Rego, Drawing from Life,' an exhibition focused on the artist's intense three-year period from 2005 to 2007, during which she devoted herself almost exclusively to drawing and lithography in her London studio. The show features works inspired by literary sources such as 'Jane Eyre,' 'Peter Pan,' and the sixteenth-century tale 'The King of Pigs,' as well as her connection with playwright Martin McDonagh. Key pieces include 'Shakespeare’s Room,' 'Scarecrow,' and 'Turtle Hands.' The exhibition is made possible with the support of Nick Willing, the artist’s son, and Cristea Roberts Gallery in London.
The exhibition matters because it highlights a pivotal late-career phase for Paula Rego, one of the most influential figurative painters of her generation, who died in 2022. By focusing on her turn to drawing and lithography after age 70, the show illuminates how she explored darker, more complex themes and personal memories. Rego’s work, which challenges patriarchal narratives and draws on Portuguese folk culture, continues to resonate globally, with her pieces held in major institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and Tate Modern. This exhibition also precedes a major retrospective at the Munchmuseet in Oslo, underscoring her enduring legacy.