You are invited to join the Alliance Française de St. Louis for a docent-led tour of “Matisse and the Sea,” the upcoming featured ticketed exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum. This unique event offers attendees a deep dive into the world of one of Modernism's most influential figures, Henri Matisse, and his relationship with the sea.

Join us for a tour in either French or in English - both options are available.

Get Your Tickets Today!

The cost of the guided tour is $10 per person (or free for members of the St. Louis Art Museum). You may purchase tickets in advance here on our website, in-person at the Alliance Française de St. Louis, or over the phone at 314-432-0734. If you are a SLAM member, we ask that you kindly RSVP by calling us at 314-432-0734.

Please purchase tickets and RSVP no later than April 7, 2024, so we can get an accurate headcount. Merci!

About the Exhibition

Matisse and the Sea is the first exhibition to examine the significance of the sea across Modernist artist Henri Matisse’s career, which included artwork in coastal locations on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. Marine imagery was an important catalyst for Matisse’s artistic experimentation—most notably in the Saint Louis Art Museum’s own iconic painting Bathers with a Turtle.

The exhibition includes imagery ranging from Matisse’s early panoramic marine views in the South of France to his late paper cutouts, representing life beneath the waves, which were inspired by his visit to Tahiti in 1930. It offers an opportunity to explore the artist’s travel across his career as well as the global influences that informed his art, particularly African sculptures and masks.

Matisse and the Sea will include a wide range of works in many media, including paintings, sculptures, paper cut-outs, drawings, prints, ceramics, and textiles. It will be accompanied by a scholarly exhibition catalogue.

This SLAM-organized exhibition is curated by Simon Kelly, curator of modern and contemporary art.