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Tate Modern Exhibition

Sophie Taeuber-Arp

15 July – 17 October 2021
A black and white photograph where a woman faces the camera with a wooded abstract head sculpture in front of one side of her face. The woman wears a bowler hat and has face paint on the visible side of her face.

Nic Aluf Sophie Taeuber with her Dada Head 1920 Stiftung Arp e.V., Berlin
 

A long overdue recognition of Taeuber-Arp’s pivotal contribution to modern art and design

Sophie Taeuber-Arp was one of the foremost abstract artists and designers of the 1920s and 30s. Her multidisciplinary work has enduring influence, inspiring innovative artists and designers around the world.

Taeuber-Arp’s creative output was extraordinarily diverse and at times controversial. She made embroideries and paintings, carved sculptures and edited magazines, created puppets and mysterious Dada objects. She combined traditional crafts with the vocabulary of modernist abstraction, challenging the boundaries separating art and design.

This is the first retrospective of her work ever held in the UK. It brings together her principal works from major collections in Europe and the US, most of which have never been seen in this country before.

A marionette with stripey arms and legs and a white ruffled dress

Sophie Taeuber-Arp Angela (marionette for King Stag) 1918 Museum für Gestaltung, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Zurich. Decorative Arts Collection

A white background with black lines, from which coloured circles hang

Sophie Taeuber-Arp Equilibrium 1934 Kunstmuseum Basel. Gift of Hans Arp

An oval rug with red and orange coloured shapes

Sophie Taeuber-Arp Oval Composition with Abstract Motifs c.1922 Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, Remagen

A round painting with relief in yellow, grey, black, white and blue

Sophie Taeuber-Arp Flight: Round Relief in Three Heights 1937 Stiftung Arp e.V., Berlin

A wooden marionette puppet held up by two strings wears a red hat, a white ruffled top and red trousers

Sophie Taeuber-Arp Clarissa (marionette for King Stag) 1918 Museum für Gestaltung, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Zurich. Decorative Arts Collection

Presented in The Eyal Ofer Galleries. Supported by Tate Members. Organised by Tate Modern, The Museum of Modern Art, and Kunstmuseum Basel

Tate Modern's entrance is via the Turbine Hall on Holland Street. There are automatic sliding doors and a ramp down to the entrance.

This exhibition is on level two of the Blavatnik buildings.

There are lifts to every floor of the Blavatnik and Natalie Bell buildings. Alternatively you can take the stairs.

  • Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor on the concourses.
  • A quiet room is available to use in the Natalie Bell Building on Level 4.
  • Ear defenders can be borrowed from the Ticket desks.

For more information before your visit:

  • Email hello@tate.org.uk

  • Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (daily 09.45–18.00)

Check all Tate Modern accessibility information

Visitor numbers are being carefully managed. There are increased cleaning regimes in high use areas, protective screens on desks and counters and hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the gallery. ​

​When you visit:​

  • Keep your distance from others​
  • Follow the one-way route​
  • Please wear a face covering unless you are exempt

​Most importantly, if you or anyone you live with has COVID-19 symptoms please stay at home. ​

For more information take a look through our frequently asked questions.

Our exhibition guide explores the exhibition room by room.

Need a bigger font size of the exhibition guide? Download the large print version [PDF 571Kb]

Tate Modern

Bankside
London SE1 9TG
Plan your visit

Dates

15 July – 17 October 2021

  • Advance booking is recommended ​
  • All visitors including Members need to book a ticket
  • How to book a school visit
  • This ticket includes access to the collection route

Supported by

John J. Studzinski CBE

With additional support from

The Sophie Taeuber-Arp Exhibition Supporters Circle:

Abigail and Joseph Baratta
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation

Tate Americas Foundation

Tate Patrons

and Tate Members

We recommend

  • Sophie Taeuber-Arp in costume for a housewarming party organised by artist Walter Helbig, Ascona, Switzerland, August. 1925 Fondation Arp, Clamart, France.

    Five Things to Know About Sophie Taeuber-Arp

    Explore the life and work of one of the foremost abstract artists and designers of the twentieth century

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    Dig in the recycling bin to find your materials

  • Dada

    Dada was an art movement formed during the First World War in Zurich in negative reaction to the horrors and folly of the war. The art, poetry and performance produced by dada artists is often satirical and nonsensical in nature

  • 16-25? Join Tate Collective for £5 tickets

    Find out more

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