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Tate Modern Exhibition

The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection

Advance booking is recommended if visiting at the weekend

10 November 2016 – 21 May 2017
A black and white photographic portrait of a close up of a woman's face with glass tear drops at various places on her face

Man Ray Glass Tears (Les Larmes) 1932 

Collection Elton John © Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2016

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Elton John’s unrivalled modernist photography collection comes to Tate Modern

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the world’s greatest private collections of photography, drawn from the classic modernist period of the 1920s–50s. An incredible group of Man Ray portraits are exhibited together for the first time, having been brought together by Sir Elton John over the past twenty-five years, including portraits of Matisse, Picasso, and Breton.

With over 70 artists and nearly 150 rare vintage prints on show from seminal figures including Brassai, Imogen Cunningham, André Kertész, Dorothea Lange, Tina Modotti, and Aleksandr Rodchenko, this is a chance to take a peek inside Elton John’s home and delight in seeing such masterpieces of photography.

Dorothea Lange Migrant Mother 1936 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection

Dorothea Lange Migrant Mother 1936 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection

Ilse Bing Willem, Dancer 1932 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © The Estate of Ilse Bing

Ilse Bing Willem Dancer 1932 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © The Estate of Ilse Bing 

Alexander Rodchenko Shukov Tower 1920 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © A. Rodchenko & V. Stepanova Archive, DACS, RAO 2016

Alexander Rodchenko Shukov Tower 1920 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © A. Rodchenko & V. Stepanova Archive, DACS, RAO 2016

Herbert Bayer Self-Portrait 1932 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © DACS, 2016

Herbert Bayer Self-Portrait 1932 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © DACS, 2016

Otto Umbehr "Katz" - Cat 1927 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © Phyllis Umbehr/Galerie Kicken Berlin/ DACS 2016

Otto Umbehr “Katz” - Cat 1927 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © Phyllis Umbehr/Galerie Kicken Berlin/ DACS 2016

Tina Modotti Bandelier, Corn and Sickle 1927 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection

Tina Modotti Bandelier Corn and Sickle 1927 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection

Margaret de Patta Ice Cube Tray with Marbles and Rice The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © Estate of Margaret de Patta

Margaret de Patta Ice Cube Tray with Marbles and Rice 1939 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © Estate of Margaret de Patta

Make the most of your visit with the exhibition’s audio guide. Hear from Sir Elton John on the works that inspire him, and get insights into the techniques and innovations of the period from curator Shoair Mavlian.

 
 

The Radical Eye Audio Guide Clip

Hear from Sir Elton John on the works that inspire him, and get insights into the techniques and innovations of the period from curator Shoair Mavlian

Join the conversation #RadicalEye

Tate Modern

Bankside
London SE1 9TG
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Dates

10 November 2016 – 21 May 2017

*****

ravishing…I’ll have to go back

The Guardian
*****

a must-see show

The Times
*****

astonishing

The Daily Telegraph
*****

beautiful, groundbreaking work

The Upcoming

The best collection of modernist photography in the world

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  • André Kertész Underwater Swimmer 1917 The Sir Elton John Photographic Collection © Estate of André Kertész/ Higher Pictures

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  • Radical Building

    Explore the submissions from our #RadicalBuilding photography competition. Inspired by the modernist architecture in The Radical Eye, selected by Tate and created by you

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  • Artist

    Man Ray

    1890–1976

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