Turner 250

Breaking Waves

To celebrate Turner 250, we have Turner's remarkable painting Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate (Study for Rockets and Blue Lights), c. 1840 on display. This display will give visitors the opportunity to experience one of Turner’s masterful depictions of the Kent coastline, reinforcing the gallery’s deep connection to his legacy.

The painting, likely created in Margate, captures the raw energy of a stormy sea viewed safely from the shore. Looking east towards the Stone Pier and lighthouse, the composition suggests an unseen vessel battling the turbulent waters.

A new brand for a bold vision

In conjunction with Turner 250, Turner Contemporary has unveiled a new visual identity, developed in collaboration with the award-winning design studio Graphic Thought Facility. The new brand reflects Turner’s radical spirit of enquiry and his innovative approach to light, colour, and the depiction of nature. In the same way, Turner Contemporary’s new visual identity embraces innovation and creativity, while staying true to the gallery’s mission to spark dialogue, inspire curiosity, and offer new perspectives through art. The new design incorporates bold, dynamic elements that echo Turner’s ability to capture the ever-changing landscape, from stormy seas to tranquil skies.

To ensure a seamless digital experience, Turner Contemporary partnered with One Darnley Road to roll out the brand identity across its website and digital platforms.

And bringing the brand identity to life, is Margate-based design studio Around, who will be ensuring the new identity reaches every corner of the gallery experience. From signage to marketing posters, staff uniforms to event design, lanyards to merchandise, and everything in between, their creative input is shaping how we present ourselves to the world.

For Turner

On Turner’s 250th birthday, 23 April 2025, a projection of Tracey Emin’s poem For Turner—her love letter to JMW Turner—illuminated the building at sunset. Emin, one of Margate’s most celebrated contemporary artists, finds deep inspiration in Turner’s emotive use of light and atmosphere.

A Love Letter to Turner

Margate-based artists Dame Tracey Emin RA has said that the light in Margate—which inspired Turner—continues to influence her. In her later paintings and drawings, there's a notable shift toward atmosphere, especially in her more recent, Turner-esque canvases involving landscape-like abstraction and gesture. Hear the artist reading her inspiring poem written for JMW Turner. 

Young Creatives

Celebrating JMW Turner’s fascination with the ocean and Margate’s unique light, we've partnered with our neighbours, RNLI Margate Lifeboat Station for this year's Young Creatives. Young Creatives is an open exhibition to platform the work of creative young people living (under 25) in Kent and Medway. Inspired by Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate selected works will be displayed on the Ground Floor of the gallery.

We've also launched a free JMW Turner schools’ resource, allowing students to explore Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate during their walk between Margate train station and the gallery.