**From September 2 to November 2, 2025, the Casa Fiat de Cultura in Belo Horizonte will host the exhibition “Niki de Saint Phalle, Dreams of Freedom.” The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Nice (MAMAC), currently closed for renovation, will display part of its collection there. This initiative aligns with the museum’s aim to maintain a national and international presence during its closure.**
Since January 2024, MAMAC has embarked on a large-scale renovation project. The work is expected to last four years. In this context, the institution has chosen to multiply partnerships and *export its collections beyond its walls*. Following several exhibitions in France and Europe, the museum takes a new step with this showcase in *Brazil*.
In *Belo Horizonte*, MAMAC will lend 66 works, some of which have never been shown in this country. Among them are pieces from the early career of Niki de Saint Phalle, like *Scorpion and Stag* (1956-58) or *Assemblage Painting* (around 1959). Her famous Tirs paintings, including *Long shot – second shooting session* (1961), will also be featured. The work *Erica* (1965), a precursor to the “Nanas” series, will be a highlight of the exhibition.
This exhibition also enjoys the support of the Pinacoteca de São Paulo, which will enrich the project with several loans. The ensemble will allow the Brazilian public to see a collection dedicated to Niki de Saint Phalle of such magnitude for the first time.
Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, is pleased with this collaboration: *”It is an honor for Nice to contribute to this exhibition, which follows in the footsteps of major exhibitions dedicated to this exceptional artist in Toulouse, Houston, and San Diego, but also in Norway, Switzerland, and Germany, and more recently in Kansas City. This exceptional collaboration with the Casa Fiat de Cultura, as part of the France-Brazil 2025 season, embodies a route of 66 works from MAMAC, including the famous ‘NANAS,’ the first paintings, and numerous sculptures. With this exhibition, a new chapter opens for MAMAC, which will undoubtedly contribute to promoting Nice internationally as MAMAC has always done.”*
## **An Artist in Dialogue with the Struggles of Her Time**
**Niki de Saint Phalle** (1930-2002) remains one of the prominent figures of 20th-century art. Self-taught, she made her mark in the 1960s with striking works, halfway between artistic gesture and performance. Her Tirs paintings, created by shooting at bags of paint, symbolize her desire to break with established codes.
The artist is also *known for her *”Nanas”*, colorful silhouettes representing a free and joyful femininity. These sculptures embody her commitment to women’s emancipation and her desire to highlight a positive image of the female body.*
Beyond the formal dimension, the Brazilian exhibition will highlight the battles carried by the artist. Her works reflect *her interest in social issues*: fighting racism, supporting the civil rights of African Americans, denouncing gender inequalities. In the 1980s, Niki de Saint Phalle also became involved in *raising awareness about HIV/AIDS*, as recalled by the *Trilogy of Obelisks* (1987).
This dialogue between art and commitment will be at the heart of the exhibition *Dreams of Freedom*. By bringing together pieces spanning several decades, it will showcase the richness of a journey where aesthetics and convictions intersect.
## **Casa Fiat de Cultura, An International Bridge**
Since its opening in 2006, Casa Fiat de Cultura has established itself as a leading cultural center in Brazil. Located in Belo Horizonte, it has already hosted over *80 exhibitions* and *presented more than 2,000 works*. Its varied program allows the Brazilian public to discover periods and movements ranging from the Renaissance to Pop Art, to contemporary forms.
Hosting *MAMAC’s exhibition* fits within this open-minded logic. The institution intends to offer a space for dialogue between European works and South American audiences. The event also participates in the France-Brazil 2025 season, which will multiply artistic exchanges between the two countries.
For MAMAC, this partnership represents a strategic issue. The Nice museum holds one of the three largest collections in the world dedicated to Niki de Saint Phalle, with nearly 195 works. This collection was assembled notably thanks to the generous donation of the artist herself in 2001. By exporting part of this heritage, the museum continues its mission of dissemination, even during its closure.
## **International Visibility for Nice**
Beyond the exhibition itself, the project illustrates Nice’s desire to assert its place in the global cultural landscape. The presentation in Brazil helps strengthen the city’s image as a dynamic artistic hub capable of maintaining collaborations with prestigious institutions.
The choice of Niki de Saint Phalle, a Franco-American artist connected to *MAMAC’s history*, appears coherent. Her approach, both plastic and political, still resonates today. By showcasing her works in Belo Horizonte, the Nice museum offers the Brazilian public a rare opportunity to discover an artist who marked her era with creativity and commitments.
The exhibition *Niki de Saint Phalle, Dreams of Freedom* thus stands at a crossroads: an international showcase for MAMAC, a tribute to an emblematic artist, and an opening to new audiences.
