New Tate Retrospective Highlights Lee Miller’s Pioneering Photography
Antony Penrose, son of the renowned photographer Lee Miller, has opened up about his mother’s complex legacy ahead of a major retrospective of her work at Tate Britain, which runs from 2 October 2025 to 15 February 2026, reports BritPanorama. The exhibition promises to shed light on Miller’s extraordinary contributions as a Surrealist artist and war photographer, expanding recognition of her career that extended beyond the realms of fashion photography, where she initially gained fame.
In an interview, Penrose reflected on discovering the hidden narratives of his mother’s life, particularly her wartime experiences. He unearthed a trove of photographs, documents, and artifacts that revealed the remarkable achievements of a woman often overshadowed by her struggles with addiction. “That much of this work had been hidden from me until I uncovered trunks full of warped photographs and looted Nazi souvenirs is what continues to intrigue fans,” Penrose remarked. His journey of discovery transformed his understanding of Miller, whom he initially regarded only as a troubled figure from his childhood.
“Lee rode her own temperament through life as if she were clinging to the back of a runaway dragon,” Penrose elaborated, encapsulating the urgency and restlessness that fueled her creativity. This tireless spirit enabled her to transition from the fashion pages of American Vogue in the 1920s to frontline photography during World War II, capturing harrowing images of concentration camps and the devastating effects of war.
Critically, Miller’s work has gained fresh significance in an era marked by global conflict and political uncertainty. Penrose emphasized this relevance by highlighting the fearlessness that drove her to join the Allied forces as the only female combat photographer during WWII. “When the war started, she was not going to sit back and see her friends in Europe trashed by the Nazis,” he stated, capturing the spirit of a woman who used her art to speak truth amid horror.
This new Tate exhibition integrates aspects of her fashion work, war photography, and personal portraits, presenting a cohesive narrative that reflects Miller’s multifaceted contributions to art. Curator Hilary Floe noted that while Miller is often seen through the lens of her collaborations with Man Ray, she was an established artist in her own right, deserving of recognition for her standalone work. “It’s about giving a fuller picture,” Floe remarked, challenging the traditional narratives that overshadowed Miller’s accomplishments.
Penrose is particularly nostalgic about how these revelations have reshaped his view of his mother. He describes the emotional complexity of her life, encapsulated in her refusal to conform to societal expectations.
