Last updated: 27 October 2026
Mark Rothko is the painter of glowing, stacked blocks of colour. Here you will find our take on his work, the Seagram paintings you can see at Tate Modern, and what you can buy.
Our take on Mark Rothko
Rothko’s mature paintings are large fields of colour with soft edges, meant to be stood in front of rather than looked at from across a room.
The best place to see them in the UK is Tate Modern, where several of his 1958–9 paintings in maroon, red and black, including Black on Maroon and Red on Maroon, are on display in In the Studio, according to Tate. Entry to the collection is free.
Original Rothkos rarely leave museum collections. At home, the realistic options are books and museum-shop gifts.
Mark Rothko: the essentials
- Lived from 1903 to 1970, according to Tate.
- Tate holds paintings including Light Red Over Black (1957) and a group of maroon works from 1958 and 1959.
- Photographed by Consuelo Kanaga at Yorktown Heights around 1949; the print is in the Brooklyn Museum.
Mark Rothko in the UK
- On display: Rothko’s 1958–9 maroon paintings in In the Studio, Tate Modern. Free.
- We found no current Rothko exhibition in the UK.
Where to buy Mark Rothko
Many “Rothko prints” online are unofficial posters. From the Tate shop:
- Mark Rothko playing cards, £7.50: a Rothko-inspired deck by Bird Playing Cards, from the Tate shop.
Mark Rothko FAQs
Where can I see Mark Rothko in London?
At Tate Modern, where his 1958–9 maroon paintings are on display in In the Studio. Entry is free.
When did Mark Rothko live?
From 1903 to 1970.
Can I buy a Mark Rothko print?
Original works rarely come up. Many prints online are unofficial posters; museum shops sell Rothko-themed gifts.
What does Tate own by Rothko?
Paintings including Light Red Over Black (1957) and several maroon works from 1958 and 1959.
More from CoolCuration
- Cecily Brown at the Serpentine review: a painter of loose, crowded canvases.
- Anish Kapoor at the Hayward review: colour and scale at the Southbank.
- Playing Arts: decks of cards drawn by artists from around the world.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
Think we’re missing something, got something wrong, or want to be featured? Contact us.
Main image: Mark Rothko, Yorktown Heights, c.1949. Photo: Consuelo Kanaga, Brooklyn Museum via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright restrictions. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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