Tracey Emin love letter to light up Turner gallery

A projection of a poem by artist Tracey Emin is set to light up the Turner Contemporary to mark the 250th birthday of the gallery's namesake.

Emin, a celebrated artist who grew up in Margate, hopes the feature - a "love letter" to the artist - will highlight the town's "thriving contemporary art scene", the gallery said.

Joseph Mallord William Turner, born in London on 23 April, 1775, is considered one of Britain's greatest Romantic artists.

Emin's projection of her poem For Turner from 20:00 BST on the artist's birthday is inspired by his emotive use of light and atmosphere and is part of the year-long Turner 250 festival.

Views of east Kent feature in more than 100 of Turner's 19th Century landscapes and seascapes.

Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate is currently on loan from Tate Britain and will be shown at Turner Contemporary until 26 April as part of the celebrations.

The gallery, built near to where he used to paint the sea, was named after Turner when it opened in 2011.

The Fighting Temeraire, one of his most famous works, currently features on £20 banknotes.

Turner Contemporary said it hoped Emin's tribute would highlight the town's "ongoing artistic legacy and its ability to inspire generations of artists."

The gallery will also host a free exhibition later in 2025 showcasing pieces from young Kent artists inspired by Turner's works.

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