Wifredo Lam: A New New World at K&L Museum: Exhibition Guide

Marking the first comprehensive solo spotlight in Korea dedicated to Cuban-born modernist master Wifredo Lam, K&L Museum in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province presents Wifredo Lam: A New New World (위프레도 람: 새로운 신세계). This admission-free exhibition investigates the artist’s hybrid plastic vocabulary with an emphasis on his printmaking oeuvre and deep literary collaborations.

Forged through Afro-Caribbean history, diasporic displacement, and profound dialogue with European avant-garde circles, Lam’s singular visual world emerges across the museum galleries in a rich, multi-layered presentation.

Wifredo Lam: A New New World Exhibition Information

• Exhibition Title: Wifredo Lam: A New New World (위프레도 람 : 새로운 신세계)
• Exhibition Period: August 30, 2026 – December 27, 2026
• Venue: K&L Museum (19 Ditgol 2-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do)
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Last admission: 6:30 PM)
• Closed Days: Please consult the official K&L Museum visitor guide for closing dates and holiday hours
• Admission: Free
• Participating Artist: Wifredo Lam

A Hybrid Plastic Vocabulary Rooted in Modernist Monographs

Wifredo Lam was born in Cuba to a Chinese father and a mother of Afro-Spanish descent. Drawing upon Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, his diasporic migrations, and intense creative exchanges with European modernist pioneers including Pablo Picasso and André Breton, Lam forged an unmistakable hybrid visual vocabulary that defied colonial categorizations.

The title of the exhibition draws its inspiration from Alain Jouffroy’s acclaimed 1975 monograph on the artist. Recently, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York presented Lam’s first major US retrospective in decades with Wifredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream from November 2025 through April 2026. Building on this international resurgence, K&L Museum introduces Lam’s artistic universe to Korean audiences with a curated focus on graphic prints, illustrated books, and poetic partnerships.

Three Compelling Viewing Points in the Galleries

• Visual Idiom Born of Cultural Crossroads: Encounter a unique artistic lexicon synthesized at the intersection of African spiritual cosmologies, Caribbean reality, and European modernist form.
• Printmaking as an Autonomous Field of Thought: Rather than viewing printmaking as merely secondary to painting, the exhibition highlights prints as independent domains of intellectual and aesthetic exploration.
• Collaborations with Renowned Poets and Writers: Discover an artistic realm where image and poetic language interlock through Lam’s lifelong dialogues with prominent literati and surrealist poets.

Practical Visitor Advice and Guidelines Before Traveling

K&L Museum welcomes visitors from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with admission and ticket desk operations closing at 6:30 PM. Since entry is not permitted after the 6:30 PM cut-off, visitors are encouraged to confirm their transit timetable and arrive with ample time to view the galleries.

This exhibition is open to all visitors free of charge. Because regular and temporary closure dates may change depending on seasonal scheduling, visitors are advised to review the official K&L Museum notices before setting out.

Official Announcements and Related Exhibitions

Comprehensive exhibition announcements and visitor directions are available directly on the official K&L Museum website.

To complement your cultural itinerary, discover the meditative resonance of Korean modernism in our overview of Reimagine Yun Hyong-keun at PKM Gallery, or explore contemporary societal observations in Martin Parr: We Are Martin Parr.