This autumn, there’s a vibrant programme of exhibitions, family activities, and special events at Tate St Ives, alongside collection displays exploring the artists, ideas, and movements that transformed St Ives from a small fishing town into one of the world’s most influential centres of modern art.
Blue Dance, 1988, by Wilhelmina Barns Graham. Photo: Andy Phillipson/Livewire Image. © The Wilhelmina Barns Graham Trust
September offers a final chance to experience two exhibitions before they close. Explore the intricate sculptural world of Halima Cassell until 27th September, where forms inspired by architecture and nature create striking patterns of light and shadow.
Until 4th October, step into Aleksandra Kasuba: Shelters for the Senses, an immersive exhibition that blurs the boundaries between art, architecture, and the natural world.
Delve deeper into the stories behind the Tate collection with two gallery talks. Queer Women in History (15th September) celebrates the lives and work of queer women artists, while Queer in Cornwall (22nd September) explores LGBTQIA+ histories and artistic communities. Both talks begin at 2pm and are included with gallery admission.
On 24th September, from 6-8pm, enjoy Sunset Spritz and Sounds in Tate St Ives Café. Enjoy live acoustic music from local musician Jo McNab, with a spritz or alcohol-free cocktail as the sun sets over the Atlantic. Tickets are £10 and include one drink.
From 30th September to 3rd October, Teylu visiting artist Tyreis Holder will transform the Foyle Studio into a vibrant world of textiles, sound and scent. Join free drop-in workshops and contribute to a collaborative installation developed with local families, young people, and community groups. The project culminates in the £1 Teylu Visiting Artist Family Day, on 4th October, offering the chance to get creative alongside Holder. Admission is £1 for adults and free for under-19s. The completed installation will remain on display from 5th-11th October.
Teylu offers free family activities and workshops
October half-term brings a new STUDIO DO installation by artist duo Leap then Look (17th October to 8th November). Inspired by Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures and dancing plinths, the Foyle Studio will become a playful space for movement, making, and creative exploration. There will be activities for all ages, including a special Toddle Tate session on 20th October.
From 10th October, discover a new commission by Istanbul-based artist Gözde İlkin, who explores the stories and memories within textiles. Those Who Remember Their Births transforms vintage bedsheets from the artist’s family into flowing wave-like forms inspired by the Cornish coastline.
Saturday, 24th October marks the opening weekend of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, a major retrospective of one of the most innovative figures in British modernism and a key member of St Ives’ mid-century artistic community. Bringing together more than 170 paintings, drawings, and archival materials, the exhibition traces her eight-decade career.
Many events are included with gallery admission. Admission is free for Tate Members, Local Pass holders, and under 19s.
