ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Les Malassis: A Cooperative of Toxic Painters (1968-1981) Exhibition at Musée des Beaux-Arts

exhibition · 2026-04-23

From October 18, 2014, to February 8, 2015, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dole hosted an exhibition dedicated to the collective Les Malassis, which was active between 1968 and 1981. Renowned for their controversial 'toxic painting,' they challenged traditional artistic boundaries while critiquing societal issues. The showcase highlighted their collaborative works and explored topics such as consumerism and alienation. Artpress magazine acknowledged the exhibition in its January 2015 issue (418, page 16). The group's dissolution in 1981 paralleled significant political shifts, notably François Mitterrand’s election, and their art mirrored the post-May 1968 landscape. Archival materials were included, underscoring their importance within politically conscious art movements.

Key facts

  • The exhibition focused on the cooperative Les Malassis, active from 1968 to 1981.
  • It was held at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dole.
  • The show ran from October 18, 2014, to February 8, 2015.
  • Les Malassis practiced 'toxic painting,' a provocative and politically charged style.
  • The group operated as a collective, emphasizing collaborative creation over individual authorship.
  • Their work emerged in the aftermath of May 1968, reflecting social and political shifts in France.
  • Artpress magazine covered the exhibition in its January 2015 issue (number 418, page 16).
  • The exhibition provided a retrospective overview of the cooperative's thirteen-year existence.

Entities

Artists

  • Les Malassis

Institutions

  • Musée des Beaux-Arts
  • Artpress

Locations

  • Dole
  • France

Sources