Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, at a reception in Delhi today, announced that the first major retrospective by Chila Kumari Singh Burman, one of the UK’s most celebrated artists, will reopen Tate Liverpool in 2027 following the gallery’s transformation.
Growing up in Bootle, Liverpool, Chila Kumari Singh Burman’s working-class childhood shaped her widely recognised, unique visual identity. A self-described ‘Punjabi Scouser’, Chila will be celebrated at Tate Liverpool with the first retrospective of her career, spanning five decades of her innovative work.
Chila explores her female and British-Indian identity through her vibrant work, spanning drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, photography, video and more recently neon installations. Weaving together traditional and popular Indian culture, family memories, self-portraiture and music influences ranging from punk and reggae to Bhangra and Bollywood music, Chila’s politically-charged work has been formed in direct response to her environment.
Tate Liverpool director, Helen Legg, said:
“Chila Kumari Singh Burman was always the artist we wanted to show on reopening, as part of a celebration of the rich culture of the North. She is renowned for creating irreverent pop and punk inspired works in kaleidoscopic colour, infused with glitter and neon, that draw on aspects of Indian and British cultural heritage. Her works are just as striking for their subversive treatment of gender, class and identity.”
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said:
“I’m delighted to announce that Tate Liverpool will reopen in 2027 with the first major retrospective of Chila Kumari Singh Burman’s remarkable career. The exhibition will honour one of Britain’s most innovative artists and marks an exciting new chapter for Tate Liverpool as it transforms into a modern day museum at the heart of the city
“Chila’s vibrant work celebrates the rich diversity of British identity. Her powerful artistic vision, spanning five decades and bringing together influences from her working-class Liverpool roots and Punjabi heritage, has already brightened our cities and lifted spirits during difficult times.
“I am grateful for the support of the Bagri Foundation, enabling artists like Chila to reach a wider audience and I hope their generosity inspires others to follow their philanthropic lead.”
Chila Kumari Singh Burman said:
“I’m made up to be coming back home to Liverpool with an exhibition that spans my whole career, from the River Mersey to the Land of the Five Rivers in Punjab. It is a real honour to be reopening the gallery and I hope the exhibition inspires a whole new generation of visitors”.
The Chila Kumari Singh Burman retrospective is the first exhibition to be announced for the transformed Tate Liverpool, with further exhibitions and displays to be revealed in the coming months. Tate Liverpool will reopen in 2027, welcoming visitors into a 21st century museum with spaces designed to showcase the incredible diversity of Tate’s collection and host world-class exhibitions, as well as establishing a new art hall on the ground floor. These galleries will sit seamlessly alongside public spaces for play, relaxation and learning, while spectacular views across the Mersey will connect the gallery to its historic context on the region’s waterfront.
One of Chila’s most renowned works Remembering a Brave New World was created for Tate Britain in 2020, a stunning technicolour installation which lit up London, bringing light and hope during the Covid pandemic. Her other recent exhibitions include Chila Welcomes You, IWM North 2025, Spectacular Diversions, Compton Verney 2024; Illuminating India, Science Museum 2017; Beyond Pop, Wolverhampton Art Gallery 2017. Her recent commissions include Liverpool Love of My Life adorning Liverpool’s town hall; Blackpool Light of My Life decorating the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool; and Do You See Words in Rainbows? at Covent Garden, all 2021. One of Chila’s trademark neon Tiger sculptures will shortly be on display at India House on invitation from the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami.
Chila Kumari Singh Burman is curated by Leanne Green, Head of Exhibitions and Displays, Tate Liverpool and Tamar Hemmes, Curator, Tate Liverpool. Supported by Bagri Foundation.
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