This will be the UK’s first ever survey exhibition celebrating the influential British artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien (b. London, 1960), charting the development of his pioneering work over four decades from the 1980s through to the present day. It will be running at Tate Britain from 26 April to 20 August 2023.

Isaac Julien: What Freedom Is To Me will present a selection of Julien’s ground-breaking early films, examples of his immersive three-screen videos made for the gallery setting, and several of the sculptural multi-screen installations for which he is renowned today. The exhibition will also premiere the artist’s latest film, Once Again…(Statues Never Die) (2022). 

Julien has previously exhibited at venues including Museum of Modern Art, New York (2013), Art Institute of Chicago (2013), Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego (2012), and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2005). He participated in the Venice Biennale at the inaugural Diaspora Pavilion at the 57^th edition in 2017 with Western Union: Small Boats. Previously, he presented Kapital and directed Das Kapital Oratorio in the 56th edition of the Venice Biennale, curated by Okwui Enwezor, in 2015. His work has also been exhibited in the 7th Gwangju Biennial, South Korea (2008); Prospect 1, New Orleans (2008); Performa 07, New York (2007) and in documenta 11, Kassel (2002).