Turner Contemporary
Art gallery in Kent, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Turner Contemporary is an art gallery in Margate, Kent, England, intended as a contemporary arts space and catalyst for the regeneration of the town.[1][2] The title commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who went to school there, and visited throughout his life.[3]
| |
  Location within Kent | |
| Established | 16 April 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | Margate, Kent, England |
| Coordinates | 51.389°N 1.380°E |
| Type | Art gallery |
Collection size | British and international art from 1750 to the present |
| Visitors | 4.5 million (2025) |
| Director | Clarrie Wallis |
Public transit access | Margate railway station |
| Website | www |
History
The project that would later become the Turner Contemporary began in the late 1990s when the Margate Civic Society and Kent County Council drew up plans for a venue that would help regenerate the town while celebrating it's historic connection to the painter J. M. W. Turner.[4] In 2001 Victoria Pomery joined the project as its first director[5] and construction began in 2008.
Initial plans for a floating pier-like construction were scrapped due to projected costs[6] after which architect David Chipperfield joined the project with a new design featuring 2 slanted units connecting into a single building.[7][8] The building opened on April 16, 2011[9] at a ceremony hosted by locally-raised artist Tracey Emin.
In 2019 the gallery hosted the Turner Prize and in 2020 it became the first contemporary building to feature on a Bank of England note as part of a design celebrating the painter J. M. W. Turner.[10]
In 2022 Victoria Pomery stepped down and Clarrie Wallis joined as the gallery's current director.[11][12]
As of 2025 the gallery has welcomed over 4 million visitors and has contributed an estimated £100 million to the local economy, helping regenerate Margate and foster a growing artistic community within the town.[13]
Recognition
In November 2011, the venue received an award from the British Guild of Travel Writers, for an outstanding tourism project.[14] Queen Elizabeth II visited Turner Contemporary on 11 November 2011, as part of a wider trip to Margate.[15]
Exhibitions
The gallery typically hosts a primary exhibition as well as a small exhibition or single artwork in the downstairs Sunley Gallery.
| Dates | Name | Featuring |
|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2026 - 13 September 2026 | Please Awake - Asked Nature Kindly | The first European exhibition by Dominican artist Hulda Guzmán[16] |
| 22 November 2025 - 4 May 2026 | Briget Riley: Learning To See | A collection of new and old works by British artist Bridget Riley exploring illusion and vision[17] |
| 14 June 2025 - 26 October 2025 | The Sunken Boat: A Glimpse Into Past Histories | An installation by Canadian-Egyptian artist Anna Boghiguian exploring themes of maritime trade, labour and economics [18] |
| 22 February 2025 – 1 June 2025 | Resistance | An exhibition of photography about protest curated by Artist and Film Maker Steve McQueen[19] |
| 28 September 2024 – 26 January 2025 | Anya Gallaccio: preserve | Turner Contemporary presents 'preserve', the largest survey exhibition to date of British artist Anya Gallaccio.[20] |
| 25 May 2024 – 1 September 2024 | Ed Clark | The first institutional exhibition in Europe dedicated to pioneering artist Ed Clark (1926–2019) |
| 3 February 2024 – 6 May 2024 | Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950-1970 | This exhibition features art from 50 female artists working within abstract art. Artists included in the exhibition are Bridget Riley, Louise Bourgeois and Agnes Martin.[21] |
| 7 October 2023 - 14 January 2024 | In the Offing | A group exhibition edited by Mark Leckey around themes of the seaside, nostaligia and esoteric views of the future. Featured a number of video and sound installations as well as traditional painting.[22] |
| 27 May 2023 - 10 September 2023 | Beatriz Milhazes: Maresias | A solo exhibition by Beatriz Milhazes, a leading figure from the Brazilian abstract art movement Geração Oitenta (1980s Generation)[23] |
Image Gallery
Close up of the roof
Turner Contemporary
Turner Contemporary
Construction April 2010 from the north
Construction April 2010 from the harbour
Under construction in 2009
