Steve McQueen and the work arc around Atlas
Published on 08/29/2026 at 12:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Steve McQueen’s recent exhibition Atlas at De Pont Museum in Tilburg anchors a wider arc in his moving-image practice. The museum presents the show as his first solo exhibition in the Netherlands, combining the world premiere of Atlas (2026) with three recent works including Sunshine State (2022), as its exhibition listing and collection page confirm.
The exhibition Atlas in Tilburg
De Pont Museum in Tilburg describes Atlas as Steve McQueen’s first solo exhibition in the Netherlands, running from March 21 to August 30, 2026 and bringing together the new installation Atlas with three recent works including the museum’s acquisition Sunshine State (2022). The museum’s artist page specifies the exhibition title and dates.
An English-language press release on the exhibition emphasizes that Atlas explores boundaries of space, memory, imagination and time, and that it is built around a new work conceived for De Pont alongside recent pieces, giving the show a clear focus on McQueen’s late moving-image production.
The work series around Sunshine State
In the press material for Atlas, De Pont highlights Sunshine State (2022) as a key acquisition in its collection, framing it as part of a group of works that foreground McQueen’s engagement with historical film material, racialized violence and the politics of visibility in the moving image.
Specialist coverage of the show notes how the combination of Atlas, Sunshine State and other recent installations extends McQueen’s long-term interest in multi-screen projection, immersive sound and the physical presence of the viewer in space, linking the Tilburg exhibition to his wider work series from Gravesend to Western Deep.
All news and background on Steve McQueen
For further reporting on Steve McQueen’s exhibitions, film projects and installations, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers continuously updated coverage.
The moving-image core of the practice
Steve McQueen works primarily with film, video installation and photography, developing precisely staged moving images that often unfold across multiple screens and carefully calibrated sound fields. His installations tend to place viewers in a physically charged relation to the projection surface and the architecture.
From the early short films and works like Western Deep and Gravesend to large-scale projects such as Sunshine State and the multi-hour Occupied City, McQueen consistently interweaves historical research, personal memory and political structures, using pared-back imagery and durational strategies rather than rapid montage.
Where the artist stands now
Steve McQueen’s current work focus, as evidenced by the structure of Atlas and the prominence of Sunshine State in the De Pont collection, lies in deepening his series of film-based installations that explore how historical images, sound and spatial perception shape collective memory.
Key facts on Steve McQueen
- Artist: Steve McQueen
- Medium / Genre: Film and video installation, photography
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice centered between London and Amsterdam
- Active since: Early 1990s, with institutional attention building through late 1990s film and installation works
- Key work groups: Western Deep, Gravesend, Sunshine State, Occupied City
- Current/last exhibition: Atlas, De Pont Museum, Tilburg, March 21 to August 30, 2026
- Major collections: De Pont Museum (Tilburg), leading European public collections with a focus on contemporary moving-image art
- Awards: Turner Prize (year as documented by institutional sources), Ampersand Foundation Award 2023 support for the project Resistance
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Steve McQueen
Where has Steve McQueen recently presented his work?
Steve McQueen’s exhibition Atlas at De Pont Museum in Tilburg, described by the museum as his first solo show in the Netherlands, ran from March 21 to August 30, 2026 and brought together the new installation Atlas with recent works including Sunshine State.
Which work series are central in Steve McQueen’s current practice?
Recent exhibitions and collection presentations emphasize film-based installations such as Sunshine State, multi-hour projects like Occupied City and earlier works including Western Deep and Gravesend, which together outline a sustained engagement with history and perception.
Is Steve McQueen preparing new institutional projects?
Institutional sources highlight ongoing interest in McQueen’s work, including planned presentations such as curatorial projects and forthcoming installations, but within the current 30-day window no specific new exhibition opening date is formally announced.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
