Phyllida Barlow
Since the late 1960’s, British artist Phyllida Barlow has developed a practice that is grounded in an anti monumental tradition. Her often brightly coloured sculptures are made of readily available materials such as cardboard, cement and plaster, polystyrene, timber and paint. These inexpensive materials are then transformed through layering, accumulation and careful combination to create large scale pieces.
“There is something about walking around sculpture that has the possibility of being reflective, like walking through landscape.” Phyllida Barlow
Phyllida Barlow Sculpture
Although at first glance “Squatboulder” and “Triplestackboulders” appear to be large stones, closer inspection reveals Phyllida Barlow characteristic fusion of man made materials. Barlow, references the darker side of rural life, the industrialisation of the landscape and social effects of urban migration in English history “Triplestackboulders” is mounted on casters, which adds to the absurdity of its seemingly natural appearance. In this respect, the work relates directly to the landscape at Yorkshire Sculpture Park as the Bretton Estate was modified in the 18th century and many aspects of the park that may seem natural are in fact designed and created by hand.
Phyllida Barlow Sculpture
Phyllida Barlow has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally, including a commission in the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain in 2014, and was chosen to represent Britain in the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017.
“Alongside her artistic practice, Barlow has had an important influence on the younger generation of artists through over 40 years of teaching in London art schools.Professor Phyllida Barlow’s sculpture has shaped how art professionals and the public relate to and understand contemporary sculpture. This was achieved through a series of high-profile exhibitions which increased the profile of and public interest in her work, and through the critical recognition and artistic responses it received.” UCLA
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