"The 90s: Art and Fashion" Exhibition Opens, Looking Back at the Frenzy of 1990s British Culture
From Grunge, Rave, and the YBAs to McQueen—Over 100 Works Come Together to Unpack the Excitement of the 1990s When Art and Fashion Intersected
“The 90s: Art and Fashion,” the first major exhibition to explore the rapid development and excitement of art, photography, and fashion in 1990s Britain, has opened at London’s national gallery, Tate Britain. Co-curated by Edward Enninful, known as the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, the exhibition re-examines a groundbreaking era that fundamentally rewrote the UK’s cultural identity through over 100 works including paintings, sculptures, photography, and garments. It runs from Thursday, October 8, 2026, to Sunday, February 14, 2027.
The new generation that emerged following the recession of the 1980s put forward a DIY ethos and a gritty reality that rejected perfection. The exhibition showcases “anti-fashion” grunge-style photography by Corinne Day and Juergen Teller, who were active in magazines like i-D and Dazed and Confused, as well as iconic visuals capturing Kate Moss. It also features a host of electric photos and videos tracking the scenes of acid house, hip-hop, drum and bass, and rave culture, exemplified by Manchester’s legendary club the Haçienda and London’s Bagley’s.
Furthermore, the show brings together works by the Young British Artists (YBAs) like Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, who drove the conceptual and shocking art scene of the time, alongside sensational dress ensembles created by Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan, who brilliantly shattered the boundaries between fashion and art. The exhibition also sheds light on the issues of race, class, and diversity that lay beneath the frenzy of “Cool Britannia,” making for a spectacular experience that unpacks the energy and challenges of late-20th-century Britain from multiple angles.
The 90s: Art and Fashion
Dates: Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Sunday, February 14, 2027
Venue: Tate Britain
Address: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Open daily)
Official Website
