Collection

Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art.

British art is represented by artists chosen for their contribution to its history and development, rather than their nationality alone. The collection continues to expand its holdings of modern and contemporary art from around the world.

Linder, ‘Untitled’ 1976
Linder
Untitled 1976
Tate
© Linder
Paula Rego, ‘War’ 2003
Paula Rego
War 2003
Tate
© Paula Rego
David Hockney, ‘A Bigger Splash’ 1967
David Hockney
A Bigger Splash 1967
Tate
© David Hockney
Marcel Duchamp, ‘Fountain’ 1917, replica 1964
Marcel Duchamp
Fountain 1917, replica 1964
Tate
© Succession Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2019
Guerrilla Girls, ‘Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into the Met. Museum?’ 1989
Guerrilla Girls
Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into the Met. Museum? 1989
Tate
© courtesy www.guerrillagirls.com
Sarah Lucas, ‘Self Portrait with Fried Eggs’ 1996
Sarah Lucas
Self Portrait with Fried Eggs 1996
Tate
© Sarah Lucas

Browse our collection online

  • Alexander Calder, ‘Mobile’ c.1932

    Art & Artists

    Explore the Tate collection online. See and learn about over 70,000 artworks
  • Andrea Fraser, ‘Museum Highlights: A Gallery Talk’ 1989

    Archive

    Find out more and browse our digital archive

The digitisation of the our archive collection was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund.

Visit our collection

Viewing items in the collection not on display

Please visit Art & Artists to find out if a work is on loan or in storage. Works on loan can be visited at the host institution. Visits to view works in storage may be possible. Please email Tate Store for further details.

Growing the collection

  • Richard Long, ‘Small White Pebble Circles’ 1987

    Gifts and bequests

    Explore major gifts and bequests to the Tate collection, from ARTISTS ROOMS to the Turner Bequest

ACQUISITIONS

Tate’s art collection embraces all media, from painting, sculpture, drawing and prints to photography, film, video, installations and performance to archive material including letters, sketchbooks and manuscripts. Tate is committed to expanding the geographical remit of its collection. Tate does not allocate more of its funds to either historic or contemporary works, as it needs flexibility in order to react to the market and what is available. Potential acquisitions of contemporary art are considered by artists who have already made a significant contribution and have achieved national or international recognition.

Borrowing from our Collection

Mark Wallinger, ‘King Edward and the Colorado Beetle’ 2000
Mark Wallinger
King Edward and the Colorado Beetle 2000
Tate
© Mark Wallinger

Lending our artworks across the world supports our mission to help people to understand and enjoy art.

By doing this, we aim to:

  • increase public access to the collection and reach new audiences
  • contribute to distinctive exhibitions and public programmes in Britain and internationally
  • promote British art abroad
  • support artists
  • foster a spirit of collaboration and exchange between museums and galleries

Download our loans policy [PDF, 96.21 KB]

Download our loans procedure [PDF, 203KB]

Download our care and treatment loan policy [PDF, 543 KB]

Contact us

Erwin Wurm, ‘One Minute Sculptures’ 1997
Erwin Wurm
One Minute Sculptures 1997
Tate
© Erwin Wurm

Please note, due to the large volume of proposals received, Tate will only be able to respond to those proposals which are viewed as priorities. We only accept proposals by email. Tate is unable to accept any proposals by post, including unsolicited art works. These will be destroyed.