Explore modern art and modern love; now in its final weeks, this major exhibition reveals how relationships can become a playground for creativity.
Featuring the biggest names in Modern Art, Modern Couples explores creative relationships, across painting, sculpture, photography, design and literature. Meet the artist couples that forged new ways of making art and of living and loving. The exhibition illuminates these creative and personal relationships, from the obsessional and fleeting to the life-long.
Including Dora Maar & Pablo Picasso; Salvador Dalí & Federico García Lorca; Camille Claudel & Auguste Rodin; Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera; Emilie Flöge & Gustav Klimt – plus many more.
The exhibition contains some nudity. There are works of an adult nature in one sign-posted room. Parental guidance advised. Children under 14 must be accompanied at all times.
The average amount of time spent in the exhibition is approximately 1hr 30mins. Please also bear in mind that the exhibition runs across two floors. Tickets are valid all day, allowing visitors to break up their visit and use their ticket for same-day re-entry
No photography, food or drink is permitted in the gallery. All bags are subject to search and large bags, all backpacks, rucksacks and luggage must be deposited in the free cloakroom. You can find full details in our safety policy.
Booking essential.
Exhibition organised by Centre Pompidou-Metz in collaboration with Barbican Centre, London.
Explore
Meet the Couples: Emilie Flöge & Gustav Klimt
We look at the relationship between Klimt and Flöge and see how, in a process of co-creation, they became standard-bearers of the new liberated man and woman, the alternative king and queen of fashionable Vienna Secession
Meet the couples: Camille Claudel & Auguste Rodin
Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin worked side by side in the studio and their sculptures clearly show mutual influence and synchronicity, announcing a new kind of creative exchange within an artistic relationship.
Meet the Couples: Jean Arp & Sophie Taeuber-Arp
In 1915, Sophie Taeuber met Jean Arp at his exhibition. From then on, the two immediately began collaborating and creating together, a creative relationship that would last for almost three decades.
Curator Jane Alison & Katy Hessel on Modern Couples
Curator Jane Alison and Katy Hessel (from The Great Women Artists) discuss some of creative and romantic couples featured in our exhibition 'Modern Couples: Art, Intimacy and the Avant-garde'.
Reviews
With thanks
Barbican Art Gallery
Location
The Art Gallery is located on Level 3 and can be accessed by stairs and lifts from Level G or via the Sculpture Court if coming from outside.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
