The art world is preparing to honour one of the most powerful visual storytellers of modern times — the legendary Paula Rego, whom we lost in 2022. Victoria Miro Gallery will bring us into the dark yet captivating universe behind Rego’s lines with “Story Line”, her most comprehensive exhibition of drawings and works on paper to date, opening in April.
Rego always defined herself first and foremost as a drawer. For her, the line was never just a mark on paper; it was the alphabet of a vast language that stretched from political protest to personal reckoning, from activism to domestic power games. In Rego’s hand, the pencil did not merely create figures — it narrated desire, loss, violence, and power in their most raw and naked form. As her son Nick Willing has said, a Rego drawing is never just one thing; it is the sum of many emotions working together to reveal the truth.
“Let the Hand Change the Story”
The exhibition title “Story Line” refers both to the evolution of Rego’s physical line and to the unique storytelling she pursued throughout her life. Among the highlights awaiting visitors are:
- A Personal Arc from the 1950s to 2022: A deeply intimate timeline that stretches from a drawing of her grandmother made when Rego was nine years old to a drawing of her grandson created at the very end of her life.
- Never-Before-Seen Treasures: Intimate drawings that have never been exhibited before, alongside preparatory studies for some of her most iconic paintings.
- Depths of the Archive: The chance to witness the artist’s creative process through notes, letters, sketchbooks, and photographs.
- Richness of Materials: A selection that shows how ink, pastel, charcoal, and pencil became emotional weapons in Rego’s hands.
A Paula Rego Wind Blowing from London Across Europe
In April, it is not only London that will celebrate Rego’s legacy. While the exhibition runs at Victoria Miro, her son Nick Willing’s new book will accompany the show. At the same time, Rego’s works will be on view at the Munch Museum in Oslo (opening 24 April) and at Kunstmuseum den Haag in the Netherlands. It seems the spring of 2026 has become the season to rediscover this giant artist’s “lines.”
Visiting Information
Dates: 16 April – 23 May 2026
Venue: Victoria Miro Gallery I, 16 Wharf Road, London
Tip: Give yourself extra time in the final rooms to examine the personal letters and sketchbooks — Rego’s true story line is hidden there.
“A story comes when you are drawing. You draw something and it often turns into something else, and you go with it. The hand changes the story.” – Paula Rego
