Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira: When Words Fall Silent, Cinema Speaks

Explore Zineb Sedira's monumental and intimate installation, bridging the political and the poetic

British-French-Algerian artist Zineb Sedira (b.1963) will undertake the next Tate Britain Commission, creating a major new site-specific work for the neo-classical Duveen Galleries at the heart of Tate Britain. On view until 17 January 2027, this will be Sedira’s largest commission in the UK to date and the latest in a series inviting leading contemporary artists to respond to this unique architectural context.Over the past three decades, Zineb Sedira has developed a powerful and multifaceted artistic practice spanning photography, performance, video, and installation. Sedira's work draws on personal encounters within the Algerian diaspora of Africa. Taking inspiration from family archives and the history of cinema, she bridges the political and the poetic, thoughtfully exploring themes of memory, migration and trauma. Her installations invite audiences to consider the emotional and geographical dimensions of displacement, while critically examining dominant historical narratives. By keeping histories alive, her storytelling becomes both an act of resistance and a gesture of connection, affirming her place as a significant and influential voice in today’s cultural landscape.Zineb Sedira said: “Taking on the Tate Britain Commission feels both monumental and intimate. It’s about bringing the weight of history into dialogue with the living pulse of the Pan-African experience. It gives me the opportunity to imagine new stories, new energies, and new meanings.”Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira is supported by the Tate Britain Commission: Zineb Sedira Supporters Circle, Tate International Council and Tate Americas Foundation.