On 28 October, the art world commemorated both the birth of Francis Bacon, one of the twentieth century’s most influential painters, and the tenth anniversary of the Francis Bacon MB Art Foundation in Monaco. Since its founding, the Foundation has been an essential resource for the study of Bacon's work, supporting research, exhibitions, and scholarship that keeps the legacy of Francis Bacon alive.
The Foundation has built its reputation through partnerships with renowned European institutions, including the Grimaldi Forum, Guggenheim Bilbao, Fondation Beyeler, Centre Pompidou, and National Portrait Gallery in London. Its support—through loans, financial backing, and curatorial expertise—has extended the influence of Bacon's work far and wide, enriching solo and group exhibitions and bringing new insights to audiences across Europe.
Publishing and fostering talent are core parts of the Foundation's mission. A leading publisher of books and documentaries on Bacon, it also funds a PhD research scholarship at the École du Louvre in Paris and provides grants for emerging artists from Villa Arson in Nice. Through weekly tours of its MB Art Collection the Foundation offers the public a rare opportunity to experience Bacon’s work up close.
In celebration of its tenth anniversary the Foundation has launched several new exhibitions and projects: ‘Francis Bacon: Graphic Works’, running until 2026 in Monaco; ‘Francis Bacon and The Golden Age of Design’ in Mouans-Sartoux; and a significant loan of rare photographs of Bacon for the National Portrait Gallery’s ‘Francis Bacon: Human Presence’. The Foundation has also published Francis Bacon in a New Light, a book offering fresh perspectives on Bacon’s life and ties to the French Riviera.
Majid Boustany, the Foundation’s founder, expressed his ongoing dedication: “Expanding the influence of his work is and will remain among my highest priorities. I cherish the hope that the research to come and the support provided for future projects related to Bacon will reveal yet unknown aspects of this unparalleled artist.”
Through these efforts the Francis Bacon MB Art Foundation continues to inspire and preserve the legacy of an artist who reshaped the world of modern art.
