Skip navigation

Main menu

  • What's on
  • Art & Artists
    • The Collection
      Artists
      Artworks
      Art by theme
      Media
      Videos
      Podcasts
      Short articles
      Learning
      Schools
      Art Terms
      Tate Research
      Art Making
      Create like an artist
      Kids art activities
      Tate Draw game
  • Visit
  • Shop
Become a Member
  • DISCOVER ART
  • ARTISTS A-Z
  • ARTWORK SEARCH
  • ART BY THEME
  • VIDEOS
  • ART TERMS
  • SCHOOLS
  • TATE KIDS
  • RESEARCH
  • Tate Britain
    Tate Britain Free admission
  • Tate Modern
    Tate Modern Free admission
  • Tate Liverpool + RIBA North
    Tate Liverpool + RIBA North Free admission
  • Tate St Ives
    Tate St Ives Ticket or membership card required
  • FAMILIES
  • ACCESSIBILITY
  • SCHOOLS
  • PRIVATE TOURS
Tate Logo
Become a Member
Tate Britain Exhibition

Paula Rego

7 July – 24 October 2021
Become a Member
paiting of a woman painting in her studio

Paula Rego The Artist in Her Studio 1993 Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery) U.K. / Bridgeman Images © Paula Rego

The UK's largest and most comprehensive retrospective of Paula Rego’s work to date

Since the 1950s, Paula Rego has played a key role in redefining figurative art in the UK and internationally. An uncompromising artist of extraordinary imaginative power, she has revolutionised the way in which women are represented.

This exhibition tells the story of this artist’s extraordinary life, highlighting the personal nature of much of her work and the socio-political context in which it is rooted. It also reveals the artist’s broad range of references, from comic strips to history painting.

It features over 100 works, including collage, paintings, large-scale pastels, ink and pencil drawings and etchings. These include early works from the 1950s in which Rego first explored personal as well as social struggle, her large pastels of single figures from the acclaimed Dog Women and Abortion series and her richly layered, staged scenes from the 2000-10s.

This is a unique opportunity to survey, in the city that Rego has lived in and called home for most of her life, the full range of her work.

Exhibition organised by Tate Britain in collaboration with Kunstmuseum Den Haag and Museo Picasso Málaga.

Our exhibition guide explores the exhibition room by room.

Tate Britain's Manton Entrance is on Atterbury Street. It has automatic sliding doors and there is a ramp down to the entrance with central handrails.

This exhibition is on the main level. There is a lift on the lower floor.

To help plan your visit to Tate Britain, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information of what you can expect from a visit to the gallery.

The main level has an immersive installation Duveens Commission – RUPTURE NO.1: blowtorching the bitten peach which includes sudden loud noises. Quiet hours will be available on select dates for those who require a quieter visit. During this time the sounds for the Duveens commission will be turned off.

  • Accessible and standard toilets are located on the lower floor
  • Changing Places toilets are currently not available at Tate Britain
  • Ear defenders can be borrowed from the information desk

For more information before your visit:

Email hello@tate.org.uk

Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (daily 09.45–18.00)

Check all Tate Britain accessibility information

Visitor numbers are being carefully managed. There are increased cleaning regimes in high use areas, protective screens on desks and counters and hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the gallery. ​

​When you visit:​

  • Keep your distance from others​
  • Please wear a face covering unless you are exempt

​Most importantly, if you or anyone you live with has COVID-19 symptoms please stay at home. ​

For more information take a look through our frequently asked questions.

Tate Britain

Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Plan your visit

Dates

7 July – 24 October 2021

Extended opening hours until 20.00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday 9 October

Supported by

The Paula Rego Exhibition Supporters Circle:

Huo Family Foundation (UK) Limited
Kim Manocherian
Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman
Victoria Miro
Cristea Roberts Gallery

Tate Americas Foundation

and Tate Patrons

Media partners

Elle

*****

…a passionate vision of love, lust and sinister violence

The Times
*****

Brilliant and shocking

The i Newspaper
****

She’s a magic realist in paint

The Guardian
****
Evening Standard

We recommend

  • Photograph of a woman drawing with pastels and standing at an easel

    How to Draw Like Paula Rego

    Follow our step-by-step guide to pastel drawing with artist Katy Papineau

  • A child sits in her grandmothers lap listening to a story, while a tail and a beanstalk grow out of the book

    Who is Paula Rego?

    Meet Paula Rego, a dramatic and powerful storyteller

  • Paula Rego Untitled No. 4 1998-9

    The Art of the Body

    We revisit Paula Rego’s work to talk about the body, reproductive justice and abortion rights

  • 16-25? Join Tate Collective for £5 tickets

    Find out more
  • Paula Rego Come to Me 2001-2002 coloured lithograph 88.5 x 59 cm

    An artist's dream world

    Marina Warner

    Marina Warner introduces Paula Rego's new illustrations for Charlotte Brontë 's Jane Eyre.

  • Five Ways to Paint a Body

    Explore different approaches to depicting the human figure through the work of five great British artists

Shop

Artwork
Close

Join in

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Sign up to emails

Sign up to emails

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Tate’s privacy policy

About

  • About us
  • Our collection
  • Terms and copyright
  • Governance
  • Picture library
  • ARTIST ROOMS
  • Tate Kids

Support

  • Tate Collective
  • Members
  • Patrons
  • Donate
  • Corporate
  • My account
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Contact
© The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery, 2025
All rights reserved