Alvaro Barrington, born in 1983, has been chosen for the Tate Britain Commission. The annual commission features a site-specific work displayed in the grand Duveen Galleries of the London museum. Barrington’s installation focused on “place and belonging” will debut on May 26.
Tate Britain Director Alex Farquharson expressed excitement about the selection, praising Barrington’s unique contributions to the contemporary British art scene since his move to London in 2015. Farquharson highlighted Barrington’s innovative blend of painting, sculpture, architecture, and performance in his works.
With roots in Venezuela, Barrington’s multicultural background influences his art, which delves into migration, personal memory, popular culture, and art history. Known for using unconventional materials and innovative artistic expressions, Barrington primarily identifies as a painter.
“Alvaro is interested in creating accessible artistic experiences and we are excited to see how he will transform the Duveen Galleries this year.”
— Tate Britain Director Alex Farquharson
Having participated in various exhibitions over the past decade, Barrington’s upcoming Tate Britain installation will be his largest work to date. Past artists commissioned for the Tate Britain project include Hew Locke (2022), Anthea Hamilton (2018), and Phyllida Barlow (2014).
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Barrington stated, “My mind has been spinning since I first got invited to do it and I’m now counting down the days. Working on this large-scale project presented new opportunities to engage with more formats and mediums and I can’t wait to share the result.” CT
IMAGE: Above right, Alvaro Barrington at Tate Britain, 2024. | Photo © Tate (Jai Monaghan)
Discover more about Alvaro Barrington on Instagram
Alvaro Barrington’s art piece “Hibiscus, Satisfy Your Soul,” created in 2023, features oil, acrylic, pastel, and enamel on burlap in a corrugated steel and reclaimed wood frame, measuring 284 x 225.5 x 14 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London. Photo by Katie Morrison.
Alvaro Barrington’s artwork “Wet Fete, Bathers, for Myself 2023,” made in 2023, showcases oil, acrylic, flashe, and enamel paint on burlap within a corrugated steel and reclaimed wood frame, with dimensions of 254.5 x 292 x 19 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London. Photo by Katie Morrison.
ALVARO BARRINGTON’s artwork titled “The Garden, Stained Glass for Rodman, Oct 2023,” from 2023 showcasing a stained glass piece measuring 241 x 184 x 20 cm / 94.88 x 72.44 x 7.87 inches. | © Alvaro Barrington, Courtesy the artist and Thaddaeus Ropac gallery, London · Paris · Salzburg · Seoul. Photo by Charles Duprat
ALVARO BARRINGTON’s piece titled “Sweet Dreams are Made of Basketball,” created in 2021 using materials like wool, hessian, wood, concrete, steel chain, basketball, plastic crate, and more, with dimensions of 2610 × 1830 × 710 mm. | © Alvaro Barrington. Tate Collection, Photo © Tate (Madeleine Buddo and Joe Humphrys)
ALVARO BARRINGTON’s exhibit featuring “Sweet Dreams are Made of Basketball,” in 2021, part of Drug Culture: Vol ii. Trust your local drug dealer at Emalin, London, occurring from June 4 to July 17, 2021. | © Alvaro Barrington. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London. Photo by StephenAlvaro Barrington’s Art Exhibitions
ALVARO BARRINGTON, “Sound of the Islands, Disya,” 2022 (205 x 205 x 45 cm / 80 3/4 x 80 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches). | © Alvaro Barrington, Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London. Photo by Stephen James
ALVARO BARRINGTON, “Lady sing small @proud Mary bottom up,” 2022 (acrylic and yarn on burlap in wooden frame, broom dipped in concrete, 191 x 121 x 23 cm / 75.2 x 47.64 x 9.06 inches). | © Alvaro Barrington, Courtesy the artist and Thaddaeus Ropac gallery, London · Paris · Salzburg · Seoul. Photo by Ulrich Ghezzi
ALVARO BARRINGTON, Performance view of Notting Hill Carnival, London (Aug. 27-29, 2022). | © Alvaro Barrington. Courtesy the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London. Photo by Timothy Spurr
BOOKSHELF
“The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century” showcases a significant traveling exhibition featuring Alvaro Barrington. The exhibition catalog recently released made it to Culture Type’s list of Best Black Art Books of 2023. Various gallery publications delve into Barrington’s artistry and are accessible through Thaddeus Ropac, Karma, Anton Kern, Blum, and Sadie Coles HQ.