The Tate Modern in London will present the first major European exhibition dedicated to Emily Kam Kngwarray, one of Australia's most celebrated artists. Running from 10 July 2025 to 11 January 2026, the show offers a rare opportunity to experience the profound visual language of this senior Anmatyerr woman from the Utopia region of the Northern Territory.
Kngwarray began painting in her late 70s, yet in just eight years she produced over 3,000 works-an extraordinary outpouring of creativity that captured her deep spiritual connection to her ancestral Country, Alhalkere. Her art, rooted in ceremonial knowledge and ecological rhythms, evolved from batik textiles to monumental acrylic paintings that pulse with colour, movement, and meaning.
Organised in collaboration with the National Gallery of Australia, the exhibition will feature more than 70 works spanning the 1970s to the 1990s, many of which have never been shown outside Australia. Visitors can expect a rich sensory experience, including paintings, textiles, film, and audio elements that reflect the vastness and vitality of Kngwarray's homeland.
This landmark exhibition not only honours Kngwarray's legacy but also marks a significant moment in the global recognition of Aboriginal art. As Karin Hindsbo, Director of Tate Modern, notes, "This project encapsulates what Tate Modern is all about: celebrating the world's most significant artists-those who shape international art history, speak to our times, and imagine new futures."