Tate Britain has announced a landmark retrospective of Edward Burra, offering art enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience the work of one of Britain’s most distinctive yet underappreciated 20th century artists.
Opening on June 12, 2025, the exhibition will be the first comprehensive London showcase of Burra’s work in 40 years, bringing together over 80 paintings alongside previously unseen archival materials that illuminate his unique artistic vision.
Burra (1905-1976) developed a highly individual style that set him apart from his contemporaries. Known for his bold use of watercolor on a large scale, he created vivid, sometimes surreal scenes of everyday life with particular focus on the vibrant underbelly of society – capturing nightlife, queer communities, and those living on society’s fringes.
“Burra possessed a keenly observant eye and crafted unusual compositions with a distinct visual language,” said Thomas Kennedy, Curator of Modern British Art at Tate Britain, who organized the exhibition with Assistant Curator Eliza Spindel. “Despite his physical limitations from rheumatoid arthritis, he found solace in his work, describing painting as ‘a sort of drug.’”
The chronological exhibition traces Burra’s artistic evolution from his early post-graduation works through his travels and experiences. Though he lived most of his life in East Sussex, Burra’s journeys to France, Spain, and America profoundly influenced his art. His visits to Harlem during the cultural renaissance of the 1930s inspired works like “Red Peppers” (1934-35), which captured the energy of multicultural metropolitan life.
A significant turning point in Burra’s career came with the Spanish Civil War and later World War II. The exhibition explores how these conflicts transformed his once-humorous approach into more serious social commentary, with paintings like “War in the Sun” (1938) depicting nightmarish, violent scenes.
Visitors will also discover Burra’s lesser-known work as a designer for ballet, opera, and theater productions at prestigious venues including the Royal Opera House. These designs reveal his flair for dramatic composition and connection to performance arts.
The exhibition concludes with Burra’s later landscapes, created as his health declined and his travels became limited to driving tours of Britain and Ireland. These otherworldly scenes reflect his growing environmental concerns about post-war industrialization.
Music, which heavily influenced Burra throughout his life, will play throughout the exhibition, helping to contextualize the artist’s inspiration and creative environment.
Running concurrently with an exhibition of works by Ithell Colquhoun, the retrospective is supported by insurance brokerage Lockton as part of a multi-year partnership with Tate.
The exhibition continues until October 19, 2025, with a companion publication edited by Thomas Kennedy to be released in June. Tickets are available through the Tate website, with free entry for members and £5 tickets for those aged 16-25 through the Tate Collective program.
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