Marina Abramović is one of the most important performance artists in the world. Here, the artist presents the first ever UK exhibition spanning her life’s work – including live re-performances of iconic works within the galleries.
Over the past 50 years, Marina Abramović has earned worldwide acclaim as a pioneer of performance art. Abramović has consistently tested the limits of her own physical and mental endurance in her work – and invited audiences to encounter it with her.
Works such as Rhythm 0 (1974) invited audiences to freely interact with Abramović however they chose – famously resulting in a loaded gun held to her head. Later works such as The Artist Is Present (2010), at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, pushed audiences to question their own emotions, as they sat in silence opposite the artist.
In Abramović’s first major exhibition in the UK, we bring together works spanning her 50-year career. Curated in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition will offer visitors the sort of intense, physical encounter for which she has become known. Abramović will participate in the programme of talks and events surrounding the exhibition.
Our Friends preview days take place 20-21 September, 10am-6pm and 22 September, 10am-9pm.
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Main Galleries, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts
Lead Supporter
With additional support from Annalisa Burello
With additional support from The Marina Abramovic Supporters Circle
Marina Abramović, ‘Artist Portrait with a Candle (A)’, from the series With Eyes Closed I See Happiness, 2012.
Marina Abramović, Balkan Baroque, 1997.
Marina Abramović, Nude with Skeleton, 2002–2005.
Marina Abramović, Rhythm 0, 1974.
Marina Abramović, Rhythm 0, 1974.
Ulay/ Marina Abramović, Imponderabilia. Performance, 90 minutes. Galleria Comunale d’Arte Moderna, Bologna, 1977.
Ulay / Marina Abramović, Rest Energy, 1980.
Marina Abramović, The House with The Ocean View, 2002.
Marina Abramović discusses her 50-year art career and the new work she will present in 2023 at the Royal Academy.
This event was live-streamed from the RA’s Benjamin West Lecture Theatre on 18 November 2019, and features speech to text transcription courtesy of Stagetext.
This Rothschild Foundation Lecture is a series of annual lectures generously supported by the Rothschild Foundation.