Ink drawing of mountains in black and white

Past exhibition

Pushing paper
contemporary drawing from 1970 to now

Exhibition / 12 September 2019 – 12 January 2020

See current exhibitions

Supported by

The Bridget Riley Art Foundation

Past exhibition

12 September 2019 – 12 January 2020

See current exhibitions at the Museum

Sign up to our emails and be the first to hear about upcoming exhibitions and events.

Browse past exhibition catalogues, books and gifts, available in the British Museum Shop.

Celebrating the power of contemporary drawing, this display explored how artists have used drawing to examine themes including identity, place and memory, pushing the boundaries of the medium further than ever before.

Featuring work from well-known artists including Rachel Whiteread, Richard Deacon and Anish Kapoor, as well as emerging artists such as Rachel Duckhouse and Adel Daoud, the selection was chosen from more than 1,500 contemporary drawings in the Museum's collection.

Currently enjoying a resurgence in practice and teaching, this display was a timely celebration of drawing. As the first display dedicated solely to contemporary drawing, Pushing paper marked an important moment for the Museum and its contemporary collections.

Other exhibitions

  • Procession of camels with lone figure leading in shadow against orange sky
    Book now

    Silk Roads

    Go beyond sand and spices to discover how the journeys of people, objects and ideas across three continents shaped cultures and histories.
    Find out more
  • Detail of an Afghan war rug, showing a hand grenade and part of an assault rifle on a red background.
    Free

    War rugs: Afghanistan's knotted history

    Discover how traditional crafts have been used to record contemporary warfare, with birds replaced by helicopters and flowers by guns.
    Find out more
  • Detail of an Afghan war rug, showing a hand grenade and part of an assault rifle on a red background.

    War rugs: Large print guide

    This guide to support the 'War rugs' exhibition has been designed for visually impaired visitors and contains the entire exhibition text.
  • A colourful Picasso print in red, green, yellow and black showing a lightbulb from a ceiling lamp lighting up a table with apples and a goblet on it.
    Book now

    Picasso: printmaker

    Spanning his entire career, this exhibition follows Picasso's prolific work as a printmaker, offering insights into his life via his art.
    Find out more