Experimental works reveal a new side to the sculptor who changed art history

This major exhibition will present Auguste Rodin as a radical artist who rebelled against sculptural traditions and invented new ways of making sculpture.

This exhibition will offer a unique insight into Rodin’s processes, highlighting the crucial role of plaster in his work. Visitors will be able to meander through the exhibition, which will evoke the informal atmosphere of the studio, discovering lesser-known pieces and new aspects of Rodin’s masterpieces.

The realisation of this landmark exhibition is possible due to a unique collaboration with the Musée Rodin, who have offered Tate unprecedented access to their collection. It features over 150 works, many of which have not been seen outside of France before.

Although Rodin is best known for his bronze and marble sculptures, his genius was as a modeller, who captured movement, emotion, light and volume in pliable materials such as clay and plaster. A stockpile of plaster body parts allowed him to experiment with fragmentation, assemblage and repetition, exploring infinite groupings and poses. Unlike his predecessors, his finished works include traces of their creation, challenging conventional conceptions of beauty.

Part of The EY Tate Arts Partnership. Exhibition organised by Tate Modern and Musée Rodin, Paris