Tate Modern's Frida Kahlo Exhibition Breaks Advance Ticket Record with 41,000 Sales

Tate Modern's upcoming exhibition 'Frida: The Making of an Icon' has sold over 41,000 advance tickets, surpassing the previous record of 32,000 set by David Hockney in 2017. The show opens on 25 June. Catherine Wood, Tate Modern's interim director, expressed surprise at the demand. This success is part of a broader resurgence of blockbuster exhibitions in UK museums, including the British Museum's upcoming display of the Bayeux tapestry from 10 September, which caused its website to crash due to high demand for pre-sale tickets. The National Gallery's recent Van Gogh exhibition became its most popular ticketed show ever with 334,589 visits. Museums attribute this trend to audiences valuing original works in person and seeking shared cultural experiences. Wood noted Kahlo's appeal lies in her feminism, gender-fluid identity, and authenticity. Despite financial pressures, successful exhibitions are crucial for income and membership growth. Tate's current Tracey Emin exhibition 'A Second Life' has attracted 234,000 visitors since February. An upcoming exhibition on 90s art and fashion curated by Edward Enninful is also anticipated. However, overall visitor numbers across UK attractions remain 7% below 2019 levels, according to Bernard Donoghue of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.