Phyllida Barlow

Renowned sculptor Phyllida Barlow was the ‘provocateur’ for Yorkshire Sculpture International 2019.

As provocateur, in 2018, she proposed a series of thought-provoking statements. The festival explored one of the most compelling of these – ‘Sculpture is the most anthropological of the art forms’.

The exhibitions and new commissions in Yorkshire Sculpture International 2019 all responded to the idea that there is a basic human impulse to make and connect with objects.

She says ‘Sculpture is an awkward and provocative discipline, constantly and persistently questioning itself. Yorkshire Sculpture International is an imaginative initiative – the renowned institutions centred in Leeds and Wakefield, which already constitute an exceptional focus on sculpture, will provide a challenging and inspirational opportunity to give priority to what sculpture is now – who it is for, what it is, and where and how it is located. No doubt each institution will reflect different concerns and raise questions around the rich potential of what sculpture can be – the more confrontational, surprising, difficult and thought-provoking, the better.‘

Phyllida Barlow represented Britain at the 2017 Venice Biennale and her work has been shown widely across Yorkshire, including the exhibition for the inaugural Hepworth Prize for Sculpture in 2016, for which she was shortlisted. Two of her sculptures are on permanent display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, whilst a collection of her drawings is held in the Leeds Museums & Galleries permanent collection.