MICA Grad Louis Fratino's Art Paired with Matisse at BMA

Fratino's work will be featured alongside the French master's in a new exhibition opening in March.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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MICA graduate Louis Fratino will have his art featured alongside the works of Henri Matisse in a new exhibition, 'Fratino and Matisse: To See This Light Again', opening at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) in March 2026. The exhibition will showcase around 30 works by each artist, demonstrating Matisse's influence on Fratino's contemporary style.

Why it matters

The exhibition highlights the continued legacy of Matisse's impact on modern art, as seen through the lens of a rising MICA-educated artist. It also builds on the BMA's reputation for hosting acclaimed Matisse-focused exhibitions, further cementing the museum's status as a leading institution for the French master's work.

The details

The exhibition will feature 15 works each by Fratino and Matisse, including two new paintings by Fratino titled 'September flowers' and 'Studio nude'. The pairings and groupings of the artworks are intended to foster an intergenerational dialogue between the two artists. Fratino's work is known for centering his lived experience and reverence for European and American modernist traditions, often depicting intimate domestic scenes and portraits that spotlight queer love and beauty.

  • The 'Fratino and Matisse: To See This Light Again' exhibition will be on view at the BMA from March 11 to September 6, 2026.
  • The exhibition is part of a suite of Matisse-focused shows opening at the BMA in March 2026, including 'Matisse and Martinique: Portraits and Poetry' and 'Matisse in Vence: The Stations of the Cross'.

The players

Louis Fratino

A MICA graduate whose art often depicts warm domestic spaces and intimate portraits that spotlight queer love, desire and beauty. His work has been featured at the Venice Biennale and routinely fetches six figures at auctions.

Henri Matisse

A French master artist known for his mastery of line, color, and atmosphere. The BMA houses the world's largest public collection of Matisse's works, with more than 1,600 paintings, drawings, prints, and illustrated books.

Virginia Anderson

The senior curator of American Art and department head, American Painting & Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the BMA, and a co-curator of the 'Fratino and Matisse' exhibition.

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 at the BMA, and a co-curator of the 'Fratino and Matisse' exhibition.

Amy Sherald

A former MICA student whose exhibition 'Amy Sherald: American Sublime' at the BMA set an attendance record for the museum.

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What they’re saying

“It's the idea that art manifests a kind of attention or a vision for your life, that it can be a beautiful life despite certain circumstances that may be happening around you.”

— Louis Fratino (baltimorefishbowl.com)

“In Matisse's case, he lived through the First and Second World Wars. Painting can confirm that life is beautiful and that it's worth looking at. I do feel that it gives back to me that way: I see my surroundings and my garden or the people I'm around differently because I've had the opportunity to paint them. That's a feeling I get from Matisse.”

— Louis Fratino (baltimorefishbowl.com)

What’s next

The 'Fratino and Matisse: To See This Light Again' exhibition will open at the BMA on March 11, 2026 and run through September 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The pairing of Louis Fratino's contemporary work with the iconic art of Henri Matisse at the BMA highlights the enduring influence of modernist masters on emerging artists, as well as the museum's commitment to showcasing diverse perspectives and celebrating MICA's rich artistic legacy.