Exhibition Insight into the disturbing work of Paula Rego at Kunstmuseum Basel

She has long been considered a star in Great Britain and Portugal, but Paula Rego (1935-2022) is still largely unknown in the rest of Europe. The Kunstmuseum Basel now offers the opportunity to get to know the stirring oeuvre of the Portuguese-British artist.

On display in the first major monographic exhibition since the artist's death are self-portraits, depictions of power games and heroines, family constellations and illustrated literary stories. In terms of content, Paula Rego's detailed works are always close to the precipice of dark dream and fairytale worlds.

The formally different but all lavish pictures, drawings, tapestries and dolls convey insights into disturbing "power games". These range from the family circle to the fascist dictatorship in Portugal to the feminist view of the battle of the sexes and against restrictive abortion laws.

The exhibition "Paula Rego. Power Games" in the new building of the Kunstmuseum Basel can be seen until February 2, 2025.