J.M.W. Turner will be the subject of a year-long festival of exhibitions and events across the U.K. in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the British artist’s birth.
More than 30 commemorative projects will take place this year, including exhibitions in London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Norwich, Bath, and Sussex that will highlight key themes in the artist’s life and work. This includes Tate Britain’s landmark exhibition “Turner and Constable,” selected by Artsy as a must-see museum exhibition in 2025. Opening in November, it will explore the rivalry between Turner and his contemporary John Constable.
Born on April 23, 1775, Turner is widely regarded as one of the most important British artists of all time. His dramatic depictions of the country’s scenery redefined landscape painting, and he remains a fixture of British life: His face is placed on the country’s £20 banknote.
“Turner was one of this country’s greatest artists. An innovator who created some of our best known canvasses, he reshaped British art,” said U.K. arts minister Sir Chris Bryant. “A talent of Turner’s stature requires a year of celebration, from the prize in his name to the back of the £20 note, his immense legacy continues to permeate through the arts and public life in Britain.”
Other projects taking place across the U.K. in commemoration of the anniversary of Turner’s birth include:
- A series of displays, commissions, and events in London and Margate that examine Turner’s legacy in modern and contemporary art.
- The release of books, films, and digital content. These will include a complete catalogue of Turner’s 37,500 sketches and watercolors on the Tate’s website and a new BBC documentary.
- A program of talks and workshops that will showcase new scholarship and ideas inspired by Turner, including an international conference at Tate Britain.
- International shows staged in Connecticut; Shanghai; Dublin; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The artist’s birthday on April 23rd will be a particularly notable day. On that day, artists shortlisted for the the Turner Prize will be announced ahead of a show at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, England. Then, an exhibition of rarely-seen images of wildlife by the artist will open at Turner’s House in South London, and an updated permanent free display of 100 works at Tate Britain will be unveiled.
“Turner is a standout figure in the story of British creativity,” said Tate director Maria Balshaw. “It is Tate’s privilege to care for the world’s biggest collection of his art and showcase it to the widest possible public.”
