Tate Modern will be marking the short but extraordinary life of Leigh Bowery with a celebration of his boundary-breaking career that blurred the lines between art and life.
As an artist, performer, model, fashion designer, TV personality and club promoter, Bowery left an undeniable mark on the art world by testing the limits of decorum and refusing to be limited by convention.
Photo: Fergus Greer/Michael Hoppen GalleryBowery forged his own vibrant path through his daring performances, challenging the norms of aesthetics, sexuality and gender by using his body as a canvas, and clothing and makeup like others use paint.
The exhibition begins with his arrival in London from Australia, where he quickly became a force in the city's club scene. It then explores his explosive entry into the dance and art worlds, before ending with his early death from an Aids-related illness.
Photo: The Lucien Freud Archive/tate.org.ukBowery was behind some of the most iconic images of the 1980s and 90s, and the exhibition will showcase some of his best 'Looks' - including his collaborations with choreographer Michael Clark, the conceptual artist Stephen Willats, and the painter Lucian Freud. Many of these works have not been seen in the UK before.
It will also provide an insight into the creative scenes in London and New York with contributions from Sue Tilley, Princess Julia, Les Child, Andrew Logan, Lady Bunny and Boy George.
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