Tate Modern and Tate Britain unveil 2025 exhibition highlights
A year of artistic innovation and cultural celebration at Tate Modern and Tate Britain.
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Ntang Dreaming 1989. National Gallery of Australia. © Estate of Emily Kam Kngwarray / DACS 2024, All rights reserved
Tate has unveiled an exciting and diverse programme of exhibitions for 2025, promising an exceptional year of art across Tate Modern and Tate Britain. From groundbreaking contemporary works to historic retrospectives, the 2025 lineup highlights the richness of global and local artistic traditions, featuring the UK’s first major museum shows for several acclaimed artists and an exploration of influential art movements.
At Tate Modern, the year will commence with an exhibition celebrating the provocative career of Leigh Bowery. Known for his radical performances and influence on fashion icons like Alexander McQueen and Lady Gaga, Bowery’s retrospective will explore his boundary-pushing work from the 1980s London club scene to his public performances. In spring, The Tanks at Tate Modern will host the UK premiere of "Hagay Dreaming," an innovative performance by Shu Lea Cheang and Dondon Hounwn that merges dance, ritual, and advanced technology.
Do Ho Suh, Rubbing/Loving Project: Seoul Home 2013-2022. Installation view at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, Australia. Photography by Jessica Maurer. © Do Ho Suh
The summer at Tate Modern will feature The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh, inviting visitors into the intricate world of the Korean-born artist known for his immersive fabric installations and explorations of home and identity. This will be followed by the first European exhibition of Emily Kam Kngwarray, showcasing the monumental canvases of the senior Anmatyerr woman whose work is deeply rooted in her cultural and ecological connections to her homeland. In autumn, a landmark exhibition on Nigerian Modernismwill highlight the transformative impact of Nigerian artists before and after independence, alongside a deep dive into Picasso’s The Three Dancers marking the painting's centenary. The year will close with a major exhibition on Global Pictorialism, tracing the evolution of photography as an art form across various cultural contexts.
Ben Enwonwu, The Dancer (Agbogho Mmuo - Maiden Spirit Mask) 1962. Ben Uri Gallery & Museum. © The Ben Enwonwu Foundation
Pablo Picasso, The Three Dancers 1925. Tate. © Succession Picasso / DACS 2024
Tate Britain’s 2025 programme will begin with a comprehensive solo show of Ed Atkins, showcasing his exploration of digital media and its intersection with human experience through large-scale installations of videos, paintings, and writings. In spring, solo exhibitions of Edward Burra and Ithell Colquhoun will offer insights into their surreal and vivid artistic journeys. Burra’s work, which spans from lively urban scenes to somber wartime landscapes, will be contrasted with Colquhoun’s exploration of the occult and surrealist imagery.
Autumn at Tate Britain will feature a major retrospective of Lee Miller, presenting the most extensive collection of her surrealist and war photography ever displayed in the UK. This will coincide with Turner & Constable, an exhibition celebrating the 250th anniversary of Britain’s foremost landscape artists, offering a comparative view of their revolutionary approaches. Tate Britain will also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Art Now, series with exhibitions by Hylozoic/Desires and Onyeka Igwe, alongside a large-scale display of Jacob Epstein’s monumental sculptures and portrait busts.
Lee Miller, Model with lightbulb, Vogue Studio, London, England c.1943. © Lee Miller Archives, England 2024. All rights reserved. leemiller.co.uk
Tate Members will enjoy free access to all exhibitions, and young people aged 16-25 can obtain £5 tickets by joining Tate Collective. With such a vibrant and wide-ranging programme, 2025 at Tate promises to be a year of unforgettable artistic experiences.
