To mark the 100th anniversary of The Three Dancers (1925), Tate Modern unveils a bold new exhibition: Theatre Picasso. Running from 15 September 2025, this immersive event explores the performative dimension of Picasso’s work, shedding light on the artist not just as a painter, but as a master of identity, drama, and presence.
An exhibition centred around The Three Dancers (1925)
The painting The Three Dancers — a key work of Picasso’s surrealist period — sets the stage for this retrospective. More than 50 artworks (paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, textiles) portray painting as a dramatic act, where each stroke becomes a performance.
Curated by Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuenteblanca
Artist Wu Tsang and curator-writer Enrique Fuenteblanca bring a contemporary vision to the show. Their aim: to reactivate Picasso’s works through live performances, dance, flamenco, and theatrical embodiment, turning the museum into a living theatre.
Picasso, the performer of his own myth
Throughout the exhibition, Picasso emerges as a self-mythologising artist, consciously building his public persona — part genius, part outsider. Works like Weeping Woman (1937), Nude Woman in Red Armchair (1932), and the Minotaur tapestry (1935, on loan from Musée Picasso Antibes) reflect this dramatic duality.
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A cast of outsiders and icons
Theatre Picasso offers a gallery of characters: circus performers, flamenco dancers, matadors, models. Some were close to Picasso; others symbolic. They appear in works like Girl in a Chemise (1905), Horse with a Blue Youth (1906), Corrida Scene (1960), and Acrobat (1930, from Musée Picasso Paris).
Practical information
- 📍 Venue: Tate Modern, London
- 📅 Dates: 15 September 2025 – Spring 2026
- 💻 Tickets: tate.org.uk/theatre-picasso-september
- 👥 Curators: Wu Tsang & Enrique Fuenteblanca
- 🎟️ Admission: Free with recommended booking
- 🔎 Other exhibition at the Tate Modern
Why Theatre Picasso matters
- A fresh reading of Picasso through the lens of performance
- A critique of the artist as brand and spectacle
- A cross-disciplinary experience blending visual and performing arts
- Celebrates both the 100th anniversary of The Three Dancers and Tate Modern’s 25th birthday
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FAQ – Theatre Picasso at Tate Modern
🎨 What is the centrepiece of the exhibition?
Picasso’s The Three Dancers (1925), a surrealist masterpiece, anchors the entire show.
🕺 Will there be live performances?
Yes. Throughout the season, artists will activate the exhibition with dance, flamenco, and live installations.
📍 Where is the exhibition located?
At Tate Modern in London.
💡 Why should I visit?
To experience Picasso as performer, explore the tension between image and identity, and engage with his legacy in a bold new way.
📅 How long is it running?
From 15 September 2025 through Spring 2026.
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