“In the early 20th century, African art had a profound influence on the development of European abstract art… Artists were avid collectors of African art objects—Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso had studios packed with African statuettes and textiles—and also carefully studied these works, mimicked them, and even openly copied their forms. European artists had more than just a stylistic affinity for African art; these artists, on the cusp of abstraction, found African abstraction to be the perfect aid to their pursuit of new modes of representation.”
“This installation brings together works from the Dallas Museum of Art’s collection by Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Klee, presented alongside objects from the Museum’s internationally acclaimed collection of African art.” 
African Influences on Modern Art
Dallas Museum of Art until October 28, 2012
1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas
(Images: Pablo Picasso, Bust, 1907-08 and Helmet mask (kifwebe), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye or Luba peoples, late 19th-early 20th century)