31 March 鈥� 19 October 2014
Supported by聽Sotheby鈥檚
Sculptor Phyllida Barlow (born 1944) will unveil her largest and most ambitious work in London to date for the Tate Britain Commission 2014, supported by Sotheby鈥檚, on 31 March 2014. The annual commission invites artists to make work in response to 罢补迟别鈥檚 collection of British and international art and to the grand spaces of the Duveen Galleries at the heart of Tate聽Britain.
For over four decades Phyllida Barlow has made imposing, large scale sculptural installations using inexpensive, everyday materials such as cardboard, fabric, timber, polystyrene, plaster, scrim and cement. Her distinctive work is focused on her experimentation with these materials, to create bold and colourful three-dimensional聽collages.
Drawing on memories of familiar objects from her surroundings, Barlow鈥檚 tactile and seemingly unstable sculptures often contrast with the permanence and traditions of monumental sculpture. In works such as Peninsula at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in 2004 or Stint at Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre in 2008, a cacophony of form, colour and materials filled the spaces. In Barlow鈥檚 most recent work TIP for the Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, timber lengths wrapped in mesh, cement and brightly coloured fabric ribbons cascaded en masse across the museum plaza to the聽entrance.
Phyllida Barlow has had an important influence on younger generations of artists through her work and long teaching career in London art schools. At the Slade School of Fine Art, her students included Turner Prize-winning and nominated artists Rachel Whiteread and Angela de la聽Cruz.
Phyllida Barlow said: 鈥楬aving seen the space evolve over several decades, I鈥檓 very excited by the opportunity to work in the Duveen Galleries. Considering a body of new work, I was very conscious of two particular contradictory aspects: the tomb-like interior galleries against the ever-present aspect of the river聽beyond.鈥�
Penelope Curtis, Director, Tate Britain, said: 鈥榃e knew that when we invited Phyllida Barlow to make work for the Tate Britain Commission it would be exciting and challenging in terms of the scale and energy of the work. We are additionally delighted that her acceptance of the commission stems from a deep love and familiarity with 罢补迟别鈥檚 sculpture聽collection.鈥�
Cheyenne Westphal, Chairman of Contemporary Art, Sotheby鈥檚 Europe, said: 鈥楨very year, the Tate Britain Commission provides an enormously important platform for British artists, bringing them into the global spotlight and allowing for a celebration of today鈥檚 extraordinarily vibrant British art scene. We are thrilled to be able to provide, for the seventh consecutive year, continued support for this important聽commission.鈥�
Phyllida Barlow studied at Chelsea School of Art, London (1960鈥�3) and then the Slade School of Fine Art, London (1963鈥�6) where she later became a Professor. Recent international major exhibitions include Venice Biennale (2013), Carnegie International, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh (2013), Des Moines Art Centre, Des Moines (2013), Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach (2013), New Museum, New York (2012), Ludwig Forum Aachen, Germany (2012), Kunstverein Nurnberg, Germany (2011), BAWAG Contemporary Vienna, Austria (2010), and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (2004). She became a Royal Academician in 2011 and lives and works in聽London.
