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DON'T MISS

Exhibition

Frida: The Making of an Icon

Tate Modern
Until 3 Jan 2027
FREE FOR MEMBERS
Exhibition

Hurvin Anderson

Tate Britain
Until 23 Aug 2026
FREE FOR MEMBERS
Become a Member
Tate Britain Exhibition

Watercolour

16 February – 21 August 2011

Free for Members

Watercolour at Tate Britain invites you to challenge your preconceptions of what watercolour is. The most ambitious exhibition about watercolour ever to be staged, with works spanning 800 years, this boundary-breaking survey celebrates the full variety of ways watercolour has been used. From manuscripts, miniatures and maps through to works showing the expressive visual splendour of foreign landscapes, watercolour has always played a part in British Art.

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TateShots: Jon Snow

Watercolour also offers the chance to see rarely displayed works in all their luminous glory, by artists ranging from J.M.W. Turner and Thomas Girtin to Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin.

The exhibition presents a full and fresh assessment on the history and future of watercolour painting. It aims to question our thoughts on what watercolour stands for, presenting famous and lesser-known works side by side and bringing this popular, universal and enduring medium back to the centre of our cultural heritage.

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TateShots: John Squire on watercolour

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Sheila Hancock on Watercolour

Tate Britain

Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Plan your visit

Dates

16 February – 21 August 2011

Pricing

Free

Find out more

BP Summer Exhibition: Hockney on Turner Watercolours

Dazzling, evocative and sublime, this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see some of J.M.W. Turner's most spectacular works.

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner

1775–1851

Sorry, no image available

Artist

Thomas Girtin

1775–1802

Artist

Sir Anish Kapoor CBE RA

born 1954

Artist

Tracey Emin

born 1963

Sorry, no image available

Read all Watercolour blogs

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