Marlene Dumas and the exhibition presence of her portraits
Published on 08/31/2026 at 17:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Marlene Dumas has long been one of the defining painters of psychologically charged portraiture. Her work has recently appeared in museum group exhibitions such as Various Signs at Fondation Beyeler in Basel, emphasizing how institutions continue to frame her figures within broader contemporary narratives, per Fondation Beyeler's exhibition overview.Fondation Beyeler exhibition page
Recent museum group exhibitions
The exhibition Various Signs at Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel has run from June 13, 2026 to August 31, 2026, bringing Dumas together with other contemporary artists around questions of image and perception in painting and drawing.MutualArt exhibition listing
Parallel to this, her drawings have been included in Contemporary Drawings. Florence and Daniel Guerlain’s Donation and Gifts to Centre Pompidou at the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga, running from July 25, 2026 to November 1, 2026, highlighting the depth of her graphic work within a major European collection overview.Latvian National Museum of Art exhibition page
The exhibition arc in 2026
Earlier in 2026, Z33 House for Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture in Hasselt presented Before Our Eyes, a group show curated by Tim Roerig in which Dumas's works engaged with questions of violence, responsibility and looking from March 29, 2026 to August 23, 2026.Contemporary Art Daily exhibition page
Reports on the exhibition emphasize how her portraits, often focusing on faces turned toward distant devastation, form part of a wider dialogue with artists such as Luc Tuymans and Mohammed Sami about how painting can register conflicts without resorting to direct depiction of violence.Emergent Magazine feature
All news and background on Marlene Dumas
For more context on Marlene Dumas and how her portraits circulate between museums, auctions and curated exhibitions, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers additional reports and background pieces.
The work core and medium
Dumas works primarily in painting and drawing, building thin oil layers on canvas or board and ink or watercolor on paper to create portraits and figure studies that hover between intimacy and political reading.Ocula artist profile
Series such as The Image as Burden, Measuring Your Own Grave and later groups around media images show how she consistently mines photography, press cuttings and film stills, translating found images into unsettling painterly presences.
Where the artist stands now
Against this backdrop, Marlene Dumas's studio practice between Amsterdam and international institutional shows continues without a publicly announced exhibition or auction date in the immediate 30-day window.
Key facts on Marlene Dumas
- Artist: Marlene Dumas
- Medium / Genre: Painting and drawing (figurative, portrait-based)
- Born: 1953, Cape Town, South Africa
- Place(s) of practice: Studio in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Active since: Late 1970s, with wider recognition from the 1980s.
- Key work groups: The Image as Burden, Measuring Your Own Grave, open-end, portrait series based on media imagery.
- Current/last exhibition: Various Signs, Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel, June 13, 2026 - August 31, 2026.
- Major collections: Tate (London), Museum of Modern Art (New York), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), Fondation Beyeler (Riehen/Basel), Centre Pompidou (Paris).
- Awards: Several international honors including longstanding presence in major biennials and curated museum programs.
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window.
Frequently asked questions about Marlene Dumas
Where are works by Marlene Dumas currently on view?
In 2026, her works have featured in group exhibitions such as Various Signs at Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel and Before Our Eyes at Z33 in Hasselt, as well as a drawing-focused show at the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga.
How central is portraiture in Marlene Dumas's practice?
Portraiture and figure studies form the core of her work, with paintings and drawings routinely built from photographic sources that she re-works into psychologically charged, often unsettling images that sit between private gaze and public politics.
Which major museums collect Marlene Dumas?
Museums including Tate in London, MoMA in New York, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Fondation Beyeler near Basel and Centre Pompidou in Paris hold paintings or works on paper by Dumas, underscoring her institutional standing in Europe and the United States.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
