By Jennifer Henry

A man of many passions, Pablo Picasso is best known for his colorful Cubist canvases and legendary love life, but it was his foray into ceramics that most shocked the 20th century fine arts scene.

Revered for his revolutionary turn from finely rendered portraiture to the abstract representations of Cubism, Picasso's sudden fascination with earthenware was regarded as not only a change from his celebrated works on canvas but also a departure from fine arts altogether.

Undaunted by criticism, the artist proved himself to be a master of yet another medium and today Picasso's ceramic creations are considered an important component in his storied career. Perhaps more vast than his extensive catalog of paintings, Picasso's ceramics are as numerous as they are varied.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has partnered with Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, grandson of Pablo Picasso and his wife Olga Kokhlova, to bring a sample of Picasso's ceramics to Las Vegas through January 14, 2008, including his very first clay creation: a trio of little ladies sculpted on a whim in 1947 while on a tour of the famous French earthenware maker Madoura.

President of the executive council for the Museo Picasso Malaga, Spain and co-founder and co-president of the FABARTE foundation dedicated to sharing Picasso's work with art lovers, Ruiz-Picasso says Las Vegas is the perfect venue for his grandfather's playful plates. "These pieces are full of joy and pleasure," assured Ruiz-Picasso. "They have a bit of magic in them, just like Las Vegas."

"These pieces are full of joy and pleasure, they have a bit of magic in them, just like Las Vegas." — Ruiz Picasso

Charming and child-like, Picasso's first pieces were an experiment with Madoura's popular earthenware plates. He carved simple smiley faces, tested glazes and transformed tableware into whimsical artworks. Eventually incorporating his portraiture, painting and sculpting skills, the collection is a rare study in a master's process. Ruiz-Picasso explained, "You can see how he progressed, how he experimented, how his work grew."