Step into colour this summer: Matisse comes to Preston Park Museum
Preston Park Museum is set to brighten up summer days out with a joyful new exhibition celebrating one of the most important and influential artists of the twentieth century.
Matisse: Drawing with Scissors opens from 15 July to the 15 October 2026, inviting visitors of all ages to step into the bold, playful and colourful world of Henri Matisse, a French visual artist who was responsible for key innovations in painting and sculpture in the 1900s. The exhibition features 35 striking, lithographic prints of his famous works, including cut-outs The Snail and the Blue Nudes.
Perfect for families and art lovers alike, the exhibition offers an engaging introduction to one of art history's most instantly recognisable styles. Created during the final four years of Matisse's life, when ill health confined him to bed, the cut-outs are among his most celebrated achievements.
The exhibition is a Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition from the Southbank Centre, bringing world-class art to Preston Park Museum for a colourful and creative experience.
Alongside the artworks, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities that explore how Matisse developed his innovative cut-out technique that changed modern art forever.
Throughout the summer, a vibrant programme of family-friendly events will invite audiences of all ages to explore his work further, including an interactive museum trail, drop-in craft sessions, and a series of specially themed events inspired by Matisse's distinctive style.
The exhibition will be held in The Spence Building, the museum's new two-story extension which provides a space to host national touring exhibitions and showcase more of the museum's fantastic collection store.
Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "We're bringing the vibrant world of Henri Matisse to Preston Park Museum this summer, showcasing world-class art right here in Stockton-on-Tees.
"This is another fantastic example of how investment in Preston Park allows us to attract prestigious touring exhibitions to the region and to give residents the chance to access them on their doorstep.
"Matisse: Drawing with Scissors is an exhibition that celebrates creativity, colour and imagination. There will also be a packed programmed of hands-on activities to inspire visitors of all ages."
Entry to Matisse: Drawing with Scissors is included with a Museum Pass. Visitors are encouraged to buy their pass online in advance to save time on arrival.
Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a French painter, sculptor and designer, renowned for his fearless use of colour and form. As a leading figure of the Fauvist movement - dubbed les fauves or "wild beasts" in 1905 - Matisse shocked audiences with his vibrant, unconventional colour palettes. He remained creatively adventurous well into his eighties, refining his ideas into the bold simplicity of the cut-outs.
For these works, Matisse used paper hand-painted with gouache, cutting and layering shapes to "draw with colour" itself. The colours were so intense that he was even advised by his doctor to wear dark glasses while working.
The lithographic prints on display come from a special double issue of Verve, the influential art and literature publication produced in 1958 by renowned publisher Tériade, helping to share Matisse's final masterpieces with the world.
