Tate Modern: Leigh Bowery! Exhibition Tickets

Step into the bold, boundary-pushing world of Leigh Bowery with a dedicated exhibition ticket that guarantees entry and a focused, immersive experience.

Getting started

Arrive at the Natalie Bell Building at Tate Modern and head straight to the entrance for the Leigh Bowery! exhibition. Present your pre-booked ticket for direct access—no need to queue for general admission. Standard security checks and bag screening apply.

What to expect

Leigh Bowery! Exhibition

This ticket grants access to a specially curated retrospective of Leigh Bowery (1961–1994), an iconic figure in London’s 1980s–1990s club and art scene. Known for his radical performances, flamboyant costumes, and collaborations with artists like Lucian Freud and Michael Clark, Bowery challenged conventions of identity, gender, and beauty.

Features:

• Costumes: View Bowery’s iconic 'Looks' and extravagant costumes, many recreated for this exhibit.

• Photographs: Explore photographic series by Fergus Greer and Nick Knight documenting Bowery’s transformations.

• Videos: Watch film excerpts by John Maybury capturing Bowery’s theatrical energy.

• Paintings: See Lucian Freud’s striking portrait Leigh Bowery (1991), painted during their collaboration.

• Other displays: Discover themed displays that blend fashion, performance, and visual art in a multi-sensory format.

• Meals: Enjoy exhibition-themed food and drink at Tate’s cafes, including specialty cocktails and a curated lunch menu at your own expense.

Wrapping up

The exhibition ends inside the Natalie Bell Building, offering direct access to Tate Modern’s free galleries or the riverside for further exploration.

Tate Modern: Leigh Bowery! Exhibition Tickets

Discover the Tate Modern on this sightseeing tour that includes timed entry to the bold and provocative exhibition "Leigh Bowery!" featuring his daring legacy of grotesque looks and queer performances. This exhibition, curated in one single space at the museum, offers a focused dive into Leigh Bowery’s theatrical universe, showcasing his iconic photo-work Ruined Clothes and song Useless Man. Explore striking costumes, rare photos, films like Hail the New Puritan and Because We Must, as well as Freud’s portraits that highlight Bowery's radical persona. The exhibition runs from October 2023 to February 2024 with guaranteed entry for each ticket holder. This tour is perfect for art enthusiasts, fashion aficionados, and performance art lovers who want to delve into the unique world of Leigh Bowery at one of London’s most renowned landmarks.

Explore Tate Modern: Immersive Art Experience

Your tour stops at Tate Modern where you will explore the vast exhibition spaces dedicated to modern and contemporary British and international artists. Built in 2000, the museum is housed in a former power station that spans over 15 acres, making it one of London's largest cultural venues. Visitors can admire iconic installations such as Turbine Hall’s massive sculptures like Anish Kapoor’s “Sky Mirror” (2006) and Olafur Eliasson’s “The Weather Project” (2003). The museum houses over 1 million square feet of exhibition space, including the recently expanded Switch House building added in 2016. Guests spend approximately two hours exploring the diverse collections, with audio guides available in eight languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian. Tate Modern stands out from other art museums due to its unique blend of industrial architecture and cutting-edge artistic installations, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in modern art.

Leigh Bowery Exhibition: Radical Persona

Your tour continues at the Leigh Bowery exhibition where you will dive into his daring legacy through curated exhibits that showcase his radical persona. The exhibit features striking costumes, rare photos, and films like Hail the New Puritan (2015) and Because We Must (2007), along with Freud’s portraits from 1984. Visitors spend about an hour exploring this single space dedicated to Bowery’s theatrical universe, which includes his iconic photo-work Ruined Clothes and song Useless Man. This exhibition is unique compared to other contemporary art shows due to its focus on Leigh Bowery's specific contributions to queer culture and performance art.

Tour Highlights

• Timed entry at Tate Modern
• Exhibition focused on Leigh Bowery’s legacy
• Audio guides in eight languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian)
• Dive into the theatrical universe of Leigh Bowery with guaranteed entry to his exhibition space
• Explore striking costumes and rare photos from 1984 to 2015
• Experience modern art installations in Turbine Hall since 2003
• Access to expanded Switch House building added in 2016
• Enjoy diverse collections covering over a million square feet of exhibition space

Perfect for art enthusiasts, fashion lovers, and performance art aficionados, this guided tour provides an immersive experience through the Tate Modern’s extensive collections. The tour allows you to explore iconic installations like Anish Kapoor’s “Sky Mirror” (2006), Olafur Eliasson’s “The Weather Project” (2003), and Leigh Bowery's radical persona, giving you a comprehensive understanding of London's contemporary art scene while enjoying the unique blend of industrial architecture and cutting-edge artistic installations.