Pablo Picasso was fascinated by performers and their ability to transform. He was inspired by the dancers, entertainers and bullfighters he painted. He borrowed from them to create his own public persona: Picasso, the Artist.
Marking the centenary of his famous painting The Three Dancers, this exhibition, staged by celebrated contemporary artist Wu Tsang and author and curator Enrique Fuenteblanca, sheds new light on Picasso’s work. They will transform the exhibition space into a theatre for displaying over 45 works by Picasso from Tate's collection, alongside key European loans. This includes paintings, sculpture, textile and works on paper, some never seen in the UK before.
Through his persona, Picasso cultivated a myth surrounding himself as both a celebrated artist and an outsider. The way that he did this can be examined through the contemporary idea of ‘performativity’ - how words and actions can effect change and form identity. This persona was always fascinated by alternative lives and the tension between popular culture and the avant-garde. It accompanied him throughout his life and continues to shape how we imagine the role of the artist today.
Theatre Picasso is presented in The George Economou Gallery. In partnership with White & Case. Also supported by the Huo Family Foundation. With additional support from The Theatre Picasso Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate Americas Foundation and Tate Members.
Staged by Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuenteblanca with the collaboration of exhibition designer Lucie Rebeyrol from the studio Roll.
Pablo Picasso Nude Woman in a Red Armchair 1932 Tate Purchased 1953 © Succession Picasso/DACS 2025
Pablo Picasso The Painter and his Model Musée national Picasso-Paris 2025 MP96 © Succession Picasso/DACS 2025
Pablo Picasso L'Acrobate 1930 Lent by Musée Picasso, Antibes 2025 © Succession Picasso/DACS 2025
Pablo Picasso Weeping Woman1937 Tate Accepted by HM Government in lieu of tax with additional payment (Grant-in-Aid) made with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the Friends of the Tate Gallery 1987 © Succession Picasso/DACS 2025
Pablo Picasso Figure: Projet pour un monument à Guillaume Apollinaire 1928 Lent by Musée national Picasso-Paris 2025 © Succession Picasso/DACS 2025
Find out more about the exhibition with our Large Print Exhibition Guide.
Picasso and Dinner on 3 October
Make it a special occasion: see Theatre Picasso after hours, then enjoy a four-course dinner in our Level 6 Restaurant. Created with Wilding Cider, Farmer Tom Jones and Chef Alex Keys, this one-off evening celebrates our new late openings at Tate Modern. Exhibition entry is at 18.00, with dinner served at 19.00.
Admission & Dinner: £90
Admission & Dinner with Drinks Pairing: £115
Menu
Welcome Bite
Oyster with Wilding cider vinegar–pickled fennel and Pembrokeshire dulse mignonette
Starter
Smoked beetroot with pistachio, radicchio and fresh mint
Main
Pork collar with Eau de Vie apples and cream – inspired by the classic à la Normande – Jonagold apples, and Neal’s Yard Jersey cream
Dessert
Pear poached in Wilding perry, served with rich chocolate sauce
Drinks Pairing
Each course can be paired with a carefully selected cider from Wilding Cider, highlighting the orchard’s seasonal bounty:
- Oyster: paired with Wilding perry
- Smoked beetroot starter: paired with a complex, barrel-aged cider
- Pork collar main: paired with a naturally sparkling, fruity cider
- Pear dessert: paired with a perry pear mistelle
Picasso and Lunch
Make a day of it. See Theatre Picasso and enjoy a two-course lunch in the Level 6 Restaurant afterwards. With one of the best restaurant views in London and a modern British menu, it’s a simple way to plan ahead and get more from your visit.
£47* for the exhibition and two courses from the à la carte menu
Available daily with 11.15, 12.00, 12.45 or 13.30 exhibition entry, followed by lunch
To Start
Smoked chalk stream trout, potato & dill
Burrata, butternut squash, walnut ketchup, red onion
Pork & duck rillettes, toast & cornichons
Heritage beetroot & fig salad, vegan feta, port currants (V)
Main
Pollock, celeriac & cider butter sauce
Fosse meadows chicken breast, pumpkin, bitter leaves, chestnut aioli
Roast aubergine, pearled spelt, borlotti beans & green sauce (V)
Bavette steak, potato wedges & tarragon mayonnaise
You can also book separately for afternoon tea or the bar menu via our Restaurant page.
*A discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added to your bill
All Tate Modern entrances are step-free. You can enter via the Turbine Hall and into the Natalie Bell Building on Holland Street, or into the Blavatnik Building on Sumner street.
There are lifts to every floor of the Blavatnik and Nathalie 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.
To help plan your visit to Tate Modern, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information about what you can expect from a visit to the gallery.
For more information before your visit:
- Email hello@tate.org.uk
- Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (daily 10.00–17.00)
