Refugee Camp
- Artist: Mohammed Sami
- Date: 2022
- Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 2902 × 5874 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
Here is “Refugee Camp” by Mohammed Sami, painted in 2022. The canvas stretches over 2.9 metres across and almost 5.8 metres tall, giving the acrylics plenty of room to unfold a wide field of colour. Sami pours bright hues onto the surface, creating a striking composition that feels both expansive and intimate at once. The work was presented by John Caudwell in 2025 and is part of the Modern and Contemporary British Art display at Tate Britain.
The painting’s scale invites you to step inside it, almost as if you were entering a scene rather than just looking at one. Acrylic paint on canvas offers a vibrant texture; the colours pop without losing depth. The piece fits comfortably in Room 28 of the “Modern and Contemporary British Art: The State We’re In” show, which explores art from 2000 to now.
In terms of style, Sami’s use of colour feels almost cinematic – the bold strokes create a rhythmic visual language that carries the viewer through the canvas. The title itself hints at narrative potential; whether you think of an actual camp or a metaphorical space, the painting prompts reflection on movement and shelter. It’s a strong example of contemporary British art’s capacity to combine scale, color, and theme in a single, compelling image.
See it in person
Refugee Camp is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
