An exhibition of Cubism is on show at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), broadening the art genre beyond the known names in China such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

More than 40 pieces are on show, all from Fundación Telefónica's art collection in Spain. Highlights include work by Spanish painter and sculptor Juan Gris, one of the representative figures in the Cubism movement.

Also on display are works by Joaquín Torres-García, Rafael Barradas and Emilio Pettoruti, all lesser-known than Picasso and Braque in terms of Cubism, but all who made significant contributions to the development of the genre.

Renowned for its large collection of modern and contemporary works of different genres, the Telefónica Art Collection holds more than 2,000 artworks in total and the Cubism pieces are considered among the most important sections, according to Francisco Serrano from Telefónica.

Initiated in the early 20th century as an avant-garde art movement, Cubism was pioneered by Picasso and Braque in painting at first, with its influence quickly spreading to other fields such as literature and music.

"It is a very good opportunity for Chinese audiences to know more about Cubism, especially by those less known to us," commented Fan Di'an, director of NAMOC.

Cubism Times, Art Collections of Telefónica is scheduled to run until January 9.