Phyllida Barlow was a British sculptor known for her large-scale sculptural installations that challenged conventional notions of monumental sculpture.
Born in 1944 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Barlow had a significant impact on the contemporary art scene, particularly noted for her use of everyday materials such as plywood, cardboard, fabric, plaster, and cement.
Barlow's approach to sculpture was experimental and improvisational. Her works often engaged directly with the space they inhabited, creating dramatic, chaotic, and immersive environments. She constructed her pieces with a sense of playfulness and spontaneity, yet they were deeply grounded in a study of form and the physical qualities of materials. Her installations frequently evoked themes of urban decay and construction, exploring the interplay between weight, texture, and form.
Teaching and Influence
Her career spanned several decades, but Barlow did not receive widespread recognition until later in life. For many years, she balanced her artistic practice with teaching, influencing a generation of artists as a professor of fine art at the Slade School of Fine Art, where she taught from 1986 to 2009.
Barlow's international recognition surged in the 2010s, culminating in her representation of Britain at the 2017 Venice Biennale with a critically acclaimed exhibition. Her work was exhibited extensively in galleries and museums around the world, and she was celebrated for her distinctive contribution to contemporary sculpture, particularly her ability to transform humble materials into striking, thought-provoking installations.
Phyllida Barlow passed away on March 12, 2023.