Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) alumnus Louis Fratino is set to showcase his artwork at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) in an exhibit titled “Fratino and Matisse: To See This Light Again.” This exciting exhibition will take place from March 11 to September 6, 2026.
The “Fratino and Matisse” exhibition will feature around 30 pieces: 15 works from Louis Fratino and 15 from the iconic French artist, Henri Matisse. This display will illustrate the profound influence Matisse has had on Fratino’s artistic journey. Viewers can expect to see a range of captivating paintings, drawings, still lifes, and self-portraits, all carefully curated to highlight the dialogue across generations between these two talented artists.
Among the featured pieces are two new masterpieces by Fratino titled “September Flowers” and “Studio Nude,” along with several other works that have not been shown to the public before. This exhibition is part of a broader Matisse series at the BMA, which will debut concurrently with “Matisse and Martinique: Portraits and Poetry” and “Matisse in Vence: The Stations of the Cross.”
Fratino’s artwork reflects his personal experiences and pays homage to both European and American modernist traditions. His creations often illustrate warm domestic settings and intimate portraits that celebrate themes of queer love, beauty, and desire. Recognized as a “star of the Venice Biennale,” where he showcased his pieces in 2024, Fratino has also exhibited widely in numerous galleries and museums. His works have become highly sought-after, frequently achieving six-figure sums at auctions.
Originating from Annapolis, Maryland, Fratino honed his skills at MICA and dedicated extensive time exploring the BMA’s extensive collection of Matisse works. The BMA boasts the largest public collection of Matisse’s art in the world, featuring more than 1,600 pieces, including paintings, drawings, prints, and illustrated books.
Fratino is particularly inspired by Matisse’s exceptional mastery of line, color, and mood, elements that prominently influence his own creative expression. While Matisse is known for his idealized representation of the female nude, Fratino shifts the focus to the male form, broadening the definition of beauty within that context.
Fratino expressed his perspective on art saying, “Art carries a certain attention and vision for your life. It affirms that beauty exists, even in challenging circumstances.” He reflected on Matisse’s experiences during the World Wars, emphasizing that painting can highlight the inherent beauty of life. “My surroundings, my garden, and the people I paint all gain new meaning through my art,” he added. This sentiment is one he attributes to Matisse—striking a balance between artistic heritage and personal experience garners a rich conversation within his work.
For the exhibition, Fratino chose Matisse’s pieces, focusing on those created in Nice, France, where Matisse emphasized light-filled interiors and leisurely scenes of female models.
The exhibition is collaboratively curated by Virginia Anderson, the senior curator of American Art and head of the American Painting & Sculpture and Decorative Arts department, alongside Katy Rothkopf, the Anne and Ben Cone Memorial Director of the Ruth R. Marder Center for Matisse Studies and senior curator of European Painting and Sculpture.
In a delightful connection to MICA, Amy Sherald, another MICA alumna, has her work currently showcased at the BMA. Her exhibition, “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” has set an attendance record for the museum, continuing through April 5, 2026. As of January 20, the display has welcomed 52,597 visitors since its opening on November 2, 2025.
