Francis Picabia

Francis Picabia’s art defies convention, constantly reinventing itself across painting, drawing, photography, and printed media, reflecting a relentless curiosity about modernity and the possibilities of artistic expression. He approached art as a platform for experimentation, moving fluidly between Impressionism, Cubism, Dada, and Surrealism, often questioning the very notion of style and authorship. Picabia’s early works exhibit the influence of Impressionism and Fauvism, but by the 1910s he had embraced Cubist fragmentation, exploring mechanical forms and abstract structures. During his Dada period, he created provocative, irreverent compositions—often incorporating text, diagrams, and machine imagery—to challenge conventional aesthetics and social norms. His engagement with typography, collage, and non-traditional materials reflected a desire to dissolve the boundaries between life and art. In later years, Picabia continued to defy categorization, producing colorful, biomorphic paintings that merged abstraction with playful figuration. His works frequently incorporate irony, humor, and subversive commentary, emphasizing process over finality and embracing the transient, mutable nature of meaning. Picabia’s practice foregrounds experimentation, hybridity, and conceptual innovation, positioning him as a pivotal figure in early twentieth-century avant-garde movements. His oeuvre interrogates the intersection of technology, society, and artistic expression, leaving a legacy of radical visual and intellectual exploration. ...

Founded in 2012, Richard Saltoun Gallery specialises in contemporary art, with an emphasis on feminist, conceptual and performance artists from the 1960s onwards. It is guided by a strong focus on rediscovering the work of important yet under-recognised artists through presentations at both its locations, online exhibitions, events and participation in art fairs around the world. Since its inception, Richard Saltoun Gallery has been driven by an interest in serving a wider purpose and is now recognised for its critically and socially-engaged programme. In 2019, the gallery launched a year-long initiative titled 100% Women that aimed to address gender inequality in the art world and encourage wider industry action through debate, dialogue and collaboration. In 2021, it dedicates all exhibitions to the writings of German-born, American political philosopher Hannah Arendt in a 12-month programme On Hannah Arendt to confront some of the most perplexing socio-political issues of our time. The gallery is considered a leader in its representation of female artists, from avant-garde pioneers of the 1960s and ‘70s, such as Eleanor ANTIN, Renate BERTLMANN and Gina PANE, to a younger generation of female artists including Silvia GIAMBRONE and Florence PEAKE. It continues to support female artists through extensive research, partnerships and solo presentations at the gallery and online. Additionally, Richard Saltoun is noted for its support of pioneering artists who have pushed the conceptual and disciplinary boundaries in which they work, from LI Yuan-chia, one of the earliest proponents of abstract and conceptual art in Taiwan, to ULAY, the late photographer and performance artist, as well as British artists Victor BURGIN, Rose ENGLISH, John HILLIARD, Peter KENNARD, Bob LAW, Penny SLINGER and more. The gallery preserves the legacy of artists through its representation of artist estates, including Helen CHADWICK, David HALL, Alexis HUNTER, Bob LAW, Marinella PIRELLI, Jo SPENCE, Barbara LEVITTOUX-ŚWIDERSKA and Shelagh WAKELY, amongst others. The gallery acts as a consultant to major museums and public institutions and advises private and corporate collections. It actively documents the work of its artists through the production of publications and frequently stages talks, screenings and performances. ...