Pieces by Lichtenstein will be part of the new collection

The groupings of landscape, still life, history and the nude will be replaced by the themes of Minimalism, Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.

When the new look is unveiled in May 2006 about 40% of the works will not have been seen at the gallery before.

The change should address criticisms of how the works were laid out, said Tate director Nicholas Serota.

"This is a very significant transformation of the way in which we show the works," said Mr Serota.

"It will probably answer one or two points in a very direct way - are we displaying the strengths of the Tate collection, and are we foregrounding works that the public really wants to see instead of illustrating a point of view?"

Dedicated rooms

Among the unseen works will be pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Francis Picabia and Anish Kapoor.

There will also be rooms dedicated to Cildo Meireles, Christian Marclay, Juan Munoz, Thomas Schutte and Tomoko Takahashi.

Tate Modern is celebrating ifive years since it opened in a disused power station on London's South Bank.

The original grouping of the works was devised by Tate Modern director Lars Nittve, who has since been replaced by Vicente Todoli.