Why did Pablo Picasso’s reputation as a sculptor grow after his death?

Pablo Picasso’s reputation as a major 20th-century sculptor grew significantly only after his death because he had kept a vast majority of his sculpture in his own private collection throughout his life.1

Because Picasso was able to sell his other works at very high prices starting in the 1920s, he was not compelled to part with his sculptures. By the time of his death, he owned approximately 50,000 artworks across various media, including a large body of sculptural work that had not been widely seen by the public. Following his passing, these works were passed to his heirs and the French state; their subsequent exhibition and publication allowed the public and critics to fully appreciate the scope of his inventive powers and his significant contributions to the medium of sculpture.23