Phyllida Barlow (born 1944) has been making large-scale sculptural works for 5 decades, as well as being an inspirational teacher to many young artists at the Slade School of Art.

This exhibition brings together works from the ARTIST ROOMS collection, including untitled:upsidedownhouse alongside other sculptures and a selection of drawings from throughout her career. One of the art world's most esteemed international artists, the exhibition coincides with Barlow representing Britain at this year’s Venice Biennale.

Barlow is renowned for her experimental use of materials. She use of everyday, often recycled, materials such as plywood, scrimp, concrete and polystyrene to create seemingly precarious sculptures and installations that invade the gallery space. Resembling things from the real world – houses, awnings, stages fences – her sculptures are playful, imperfect and unstable looking, with layered, bulky and textured surfaces. Fascinated by the urban environment, by the familiar and the overlooked, Barlow asks us to look at the world differently.  

Phyllida Barlow: Artists Rooms is part of Turner Contemporary's summer season ‘every day is a new day’. Our summer season celebrates the importance of art and creativity, its capacity to empower all of us and make positive change. It brings together exhibitions by British sculptor Phyllida Barlow, British-Kenyan painter Michael Armitage with artwork by young people from Kent and Africa, and JMW Turner.

ARTIST ROOMS was established in 2008 through The d’Offay Donation with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund and the Scottish and British Governments. 

https://www.turnercontemporary.org/exhibitions/phyllida-barlow-artists-rooms

Collection Artist(s)