François Morellet Centenary Retrospective at Centre Pompidou-Metz

The Centre Pompidou-Metz opens 'François Morellet. 100 pour cent', the first centenary celebration of the geometric abstraction master (1926-2016). Curated by Michel Gauthier, the exhibition features 100 works from 1941 to 2016, tracing Morellet's evolution from figurative CoBrA-influenced beginnings to his embrace of concrete art after discovering Max Bill in São Paulo in 1950. The show is structured around two opposing poles: Mondrian's geometric rigor and Picabia's provocative optical play. Highlights include early works like 'Du jaune au violet' (1956), grid-based pieces such as 'Double trame noire sur fond blanc' (1972), and spatial experiments with neon and mirrors. Morellet, a co-founder of GRAV (Groupe de recherche d'arts visuels) with Julio Le Parc and Horacio Garcia Rossi, used flashing lights and irregular installations to destabilize perception. Later series like 'Geometrees' and 'π bacoco' blend precise geometry with organic, parodic elements. The exhibition runs until September 28, 2026.