LEIGH BOWERY AT TATE MODERN

The retrospective “Leigh Bowery!” is currently on view at Tate Modern in London, from 27 February to 31 August 2025. This is the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to the cult figure of the London underground scene, tracing the explosive career of the Australian artist through fashion, performance, and subversion. Over 200 pieces (including costumes, photographs, videos, and archival material) immerse visitors in a flamboyant and provocative world.

Bowery’s iconic outfits, straddling the grotesque and the sublime, are at the heart of the exhibition: latex, tulle, glitter, and exaggerated volumes sculpt a radical silhouette. The show also revisits his major artistic collaborations, from choreographer Michael Clark to painter Lucian Freud, as well as photographers like Nick Knight and Fergus Greer. Performances, club archives (notably from Taboo), and film works reinforce this sensory and political experience.

Beyond the visual shock, the exhibition reflects Bowery’s deep commitment: using the body as a tool for expression, challenging gender norms, and artistically responding to the AIDS crisis. This exhibition celebrates a major figure in queer culture and the avant-garde, whose influence continues to resonate in contemporary fashion and performance art.