Colour takes centre stage at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

14 Oct 2026

In the exhibition, Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith, colour becomes part of the story.

Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith brings together more than 80 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and ceramics from the Musée national Picasso–Paris, spanning different periods of Picasso's extraordinary life and work. Reimagined by legendary British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, the exhibition transforms Auckland Art Gallery's spaces through colour, pattern, texture and unexpected materials.

Auckland Art Gallery exhibition, Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith. Images by Pamela McIntosh.

Resene is proud to be the exclusive supplier of paint and colour for this immersive experience. Working with the exhibition's distinctive visual language, the exhibition team selected a palette of Resene paint colours to create the carefully choreographed environments that surround Picasso's work.

From deep, atmospheric tones to vivid pops of colour, shades like Resene Red Hot, Delta Blue, Paris Daisy and Hopbush set the mood for a different chapter of the exhibition, creating a backdrop that is as considered and expressive as the artworks themselves.

Haven't been to the exhibition?

Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith is on at Auckland Art Gallery from 10 October 2026 – 1 February 2027. Book your tickets here.

Published: 14 Oct 2026