Steve McQueen and the presence in major collections
Published on 06/24/2026 at 21:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Steve McQueen has embedded his film and installation work deeply in the institutional landscape, from early moving-image pieces to Oscar-winning cinema. His art features prominently in museum collections such as Tate, MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago, marking a rare crossover between film and contemporary art.
Steve McQueen in public collections
The Tate in London holds several works by Steve McQueen, including the early video installation Bear from 1993, acquired for its collection of contemporary British art. The acquisition underscores how Tate positioned McQueen early as a key figure in moving-image practice.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York lists McQueen’s multi-channel installation Static (2009), showing a circling helicopter view of the Statue of Liberty, in its collection of media and performance art. The work entered MoMA’s holdings as part of its effort to track political image-making in contemporary video.
Museum focus on film and installation
The Art Institute of Chicago presented a focused exhibition of McQueen’s film End Credits, an ongoing work based on FBI files about singer and activist Paul Robeson, and subsequently retained the piece for its collection of time-based media. The museum frames the work as a long-term memorial to state surveillance and erasure.
The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York has shown McQueen’s installation Drumroll (1998), a three-channel video filmed inside an oil drum rolled through Manhattan. This work, which belongs to the Whitney’s collection, exemplifies McQueen’s interest in physical immersion and disorientation in urban space.
More news and background on Steve McQueen
For collectors and curators, Steve McQueen’s museum presence offers a clear frame to follow his installations, films and public projects between cinema, biennials and major collections.
The core of McQueen’s practice
Steve McQueen works primarily with film, video installation and photography, often presenting multi-channel projections in architecturally precise settings. His art investigates power, race, memory and the body, frequently through slow pacing and tightly framed images.
Where the artist stands now
Steve McQueen remains a central figure for museums building collections of time-based media, with his film and installation work regularly referenced in curatorial texts on moving-image art since the 1990s.
Key facts on Steve McQueen
- Artist: Steve McQueen
- Medium / Genre: Film and video installation (moving-image art)
- Born: 1969, London, United Kingdom
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice between London and Amsterdam, with extensive international exhibition activity.
- Active since: Early 1990s, with breakthrough video works exhibited in London and European institutions.
- Key work groups: Bear, Drumroll, Static, End Credits
- Current/last exhibition: End Credits, Art Institute of Chicago, focused time-based media presentation (recent institutional programming).
- Major collections: Tate (London), Museum of Modern Art (New York), Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago).
- Awards: Turner Prize 1999 (Tate, London) for video and film installations.
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Steve McQueen
Which Steve McQueen works are in the Tate collection?
The Tate holds several works by Steve McQueen, including the early black-and-white video installation Bear from 1993, which entered its contemporary art holdings as an important example of 1990s moving-image practice.
Does the Museum of Modern Art collect Steve McQueen?
Yes, MoMA in New York lists Steve McQueen’s installation Static (2009) in its collection of media and performance art, reflecting the museum’s interest in politically engaged moving-image work.
What defines Steve McQueen’s museum presence?
Museums emphasize McQueen’s crossover between gallery installations and feature films, often highlighting works like End Credits, Drumroll and Static as anchors of their time-based media collections.
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.
Disclaimer regarding our articles: No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Information on prices, companies, and markets is provided without guarantee; changes are possible at any time. Stock market transactions can lead to substantial losses. Our articles are created and reviewed in whole or in part automatically with the support of AI.
