ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Kabakovs' First Major UK Retrospective at Tate

exhibition · 2026-05-05

Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, known for their visual culture research on Soviet symbols, are featured in a video interview from their Long Island studio during their first major UK retrospective at Tate London, running until January 28. The exhibition covers Ilya's early drawings, paintings, and sculptures from 1960s Moscow to recent large installations, including three rarely seen works presented together for the first time: 'The Man Who Flew into Space from His Apartment' (1985), 'Labyrinth (My Mother’s Album)' (1990), and 'Not Everyone Will Be Taken Into the Future' (2001). The couple, born in Russia and now US residents, collaborated after moving to New York in the 1980s.

Key facts

  • Ilya Kabakov born 1933, Emilia Kabakov born 1945.
  • First major UK retrospective at Tate London.
  • Exhibition runs until January 28.
  • Includes three rarely seen installations shown together for the first time.
  • Early works from 1960s Moscow studio.
  • Collaboration began after moving to New York in 1980s.
  • Video interview filmed in Long Island studio.
  • Artists are married couple.

Entities

Artists

  • Ilya Kabakov
  • Emilia Kabakov

Institutions

  • Tate

Locations

  • Long Island
  • United States
  • Russia
  • Moscow
  • New York
  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources