OPERA GALLERY
Amoako Boafo, Fernando Botero, André Brasilier, Bernard Buffet, Marc Chagall, George Condo, Paul Delvaux, Andy Denzler, Raoul Dufy, Philippe Hiquily, Alex Katz, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Gustavo Nazareno, Julian Opie, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Niki de Saint Phalle, Xevi Solà, Manolo Valdés, Kees van Dongen, Andy Warhol et Tom Wesselmann
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"Le Féminin"
Xevi Solà, Nova, 2023, Oil on canvas, 73 x 60 cm, 28.7 x 23.6 in
Paris, France; April 2025 – Opera Gallery Paris is pleased to present ‘Le Féminin,’ a group exhibition featuring nearly 50 works by Amoako Boafo, Fernando Botero, André Brasilier, Bernard Buffet, Marc Chagall, George Condo, Paul Delvaux, Andy Denzler, Raoul Dufy, Philippe Hiquily, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Gustavo Nazareno, Julian Opie, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Niki de Saint Phalle, Xevi Solà, Manolo Valdés, Kees van Dongen, Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann.
Comprising paintings, sculptures, video installations, and drawings, ‘Le Féminin’ explores representations of the female figure, opening a dialogue around identity, representation, and the portrayal of women in art. With works created between 1900 and 2024, ‘Le Féminin’ also traces the aesthetic evolution of this representation and examines how stereotypes of the female form have been questioned and redefined.
The artworks range from abstract interpretations of the body to intimate portraits that reveal deeply personal stories, both about the subject and the artist. The dreamlike, lyrical portrayals of women by Marc Chagall and Paul Delvaux stand in contrast to Julian Opie’s minimalist, repetitive video portraits, which challenge social norms and contemporary cultural stereotypes. Andy Denzler’s expressive paintings, often freeze-frames of women in solitary poses, convey a sense of melancholy and longing through subtle color palettes and a blurred aesthetic. Xevi Solà’s psychological portraits combine vivid colors with an illustrative sensitivity to evoke strong emotional intensity. Tom Wesselmann’s highly stylized nudes question the objectification and portrayal of women in mass media.
In Laced Fingers (2022) by Amoako Boafo, painted using the artist’s signature finger-painting technique and featuring muted tones, a female subject displays a pensive expression. In contrast, Nude in the Red Studio in Vence, a 1945 gouache and watercolor on paper by Raoul Dufy, uses expressive brushwork and vibrant colors to depict a nude female figure in the artist’s studio, positioning her as a central figure in the creative process. Niki de Saint Phalle is the only female artist represented in the exhibition. Her sculpture Dominique (jambe en l’air), 1966, is a collage work from her iconic Nanas series, known for joyful and sculptural representations of women that celebrate femininity and motherhood. Through this curated selection, the exhibition pays tribute to artists’ portrayals of the female figure. It highlights how women have long served—and continue to serve—as a vital source of inspiration and as subjects of some of the most captivating works in art history. At the same time, the exhibition fosters a dialogue around representation, emancipation, and reclaiming narratives. With this collection of portraits, ‘Le Féminin’ seeks to tell women’s stories, moving beyond the simplified image of the female subject as mere muse.
The gallery
Founded in Singapore in 1994, Opera Gallery has forged, over its 30 years, a network of 14 locations worldwide including London, Paris, New York, Geneva, Singapore, and Madrid, establishing itself as one of the leading global players within the international art market.
Headed by Gilles Dyan, Opera Gallery specialises in Modern, Postwar, and Contemporary art. In addition, the gallery represents international emerging artists such as Andy Denzler, Anthony James and Gustavo Nazareno, and more established contemporary artists such as Ron Arad, Manolo Valdés, and Anselm Reyle.
For more than 30 years, Opera Gallery’s mission has been to showcase the dynamic, innovative, and diverse expressions of modern and contemporary art through its ambitious yearly exhibition programming as well as to bring together institutions that shape the cultural landscape, often supporting private collections and leading public institutions.
