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Richard Wentworth

Richard Wentworth has played a leading role in New British Sculpture since the end of the 1970s. His work, encircling the notion of objects and their use as part of our day-to-day experiences, has altered the traditional definition of sculpture as well as photography. By transforming and manipulating industrial and/or found objects into works of art, Wentworth subverts their original function and extends our understanding of them by breaking the conventional system of classification. The sculptural arrangements play with the notion of ready-made and juxtaposition of objects that bear no relation to each other.  Whereas in photography, as in the ongoing series Making Do and Getting By, Wentworth documents the everyday, paying attention to objects, occasional and involuntary geometries as well as uncanny situations that often go unnoticed.

Richard Wentworth lives and works in London. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at SWG3, Glasgow, UK, with Victoria Miguel (2018); Galerie Azzedine Alaïa, Paris, France (2017); Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN, USA (2015); Bold Tendencies, Peckham, London, UK (2015); 'Black Maria' (in collaboration with Gruppe), Kings Cross, London, UK (2013); Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2010); 52nd Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2009); Tate Liverpool, UK (2005); Artangel, London, UK (2002); Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany (1998); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1994); and Serpentine Gallery, London, UK (1993). Wentworth has participated in recent group exhibitions at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, UK (2018); Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, UK (2018); Luma Foundation, Gstaad, Switzerland (2016); the Foundling Museum, London, UK (2016), MAC, Belfast, Ireland (2016); Hayward Gallery, London, UK (2015); and Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK (2014). He was awarded an OBE in 2011. 

 

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

'Behold – a show about touch' (group), Hypha Studios (23 February - 16 March 2023)
 

Havana

Richard Wentworth
Havana

2015
Archival Inkjet print, steel nails, wooden frame 58.8 x 48 x 7 cm / 23 x 19 x 3 in.

Chok

Richard Wentworth
Chok

2014
Steel cable, dictionary, glass, bricks 17 x 21 x 12.5 cm / 7 x 8 x 5 in.

Here and Now

Richard Wentworth
Here and Now

2013
Set of 7 individual prints Each: 29 x 19 cm / 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.

A Room Full of Lovers

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

A Room Full of Lovers

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

A Room Full of Lovers

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

Caledonian Road, London, 2007

Richard Wentworth
Caledonian Road, London, 2007

2013
C print 31.6 x 48 cm / 12 1/2 x 19 in.

Beijing, 2007

Richard Wentworth
Beijing, 2007

2013
C print 31.6 x 48 cm / 12 1/2 x 19 in.

South East Spain, 2007

Richard Wentworth
South East Spain, 2007

2013
C print 48 x 31.6 cm / 19 x 12 1/2 in.

Plume

Richard Wentworth
Plume

2012
Mixed media 40 x 20 x 8 cm / 16 x 8 x 3 in.

The Light of Day

Richard Wentworth
The Light of Day

2011

Digital print, antiqued mirror and nails

Firma Terra Firma Terra

Richard Wentworth
Firma Terra Firma Terra

2009
Books, steel, and cable 300 x 300 x 150 cm / 118 x 118 x 59 in.

Ifs and Buts

Richard Wentworth
Ifs and Buts

2005
Galvanised Steel with mirror (two parts) Steel: 44cm x 210cm / 17 x 82 1/2 in. Glass: 35 x 50 x 230cm / 14 x 20 x 90 1/2 in.

Mode - Module - Modular

Richard Wentworth
Mode - Module - Modular

2004
Wood and steel coat hook 47.5 x 50 x 35cm / 19 x 19 1/2 x 14 in.

Mirror, Mirror

Richard Wentworth
Mirror, Mirror

2003
Galvanised steel, laminated glass and assorted dictionaries 300 x 540 x 30 cm / 118 x 212 x 12 in.

Fort (For Marie Antoinette)

Richard Wentworth
Fort (For Marie Antoinette)

2001
Galvanised steel 400 x 275 cm / 157 1/2 x 108 in.

Calais 2000. Occasional Geometries.

Richard Wentworth
Calais 2000. Occasional Geometries.

2000
Unique photographic print 74 x 92 x 6.5 cm / 29 x 36 x 2 1/2 in.

Le Baton

Richard Wentworth
Le Baton

2000
Broken ceramic plates 300 x 30 cm / 118 x 12 in.

Twenty seven minutes, twenty two nouns, seven adjectives

Richard Wentworth
Twenty seven minutes, twenty two nouns, seven adjectives

1999
Book, assorted materials on mirrored glass Dimensions variable

Flight (Two Storey Rorschach)

Richard Wentworth
Flight (Two Storey Rorschach)

1999
Ceramic plates, steel pins Dimensions variable

Spread

Richard Wentworth
Spread

1997
Ceramic plates Diameter: 600 cm / 236 in.

False Ceiling

Richard Wentworth
False Ceiling

1995
Books and steel cable Dimensions variable

List (15 Months)

Richard Wentworth
List (15 Months)

1994
Aluminium, stainless steel and glass 10.4 x 114.2 x 16 cm / 4 x 45 x 6 in.

Late 20th Century Flag

Richard Wentworth
Late 20th Century Flag

1993
Glass and plastic 24 x 25 x 26 cm / 9 1/2 x 10 x 10 in.

Tract (from Boost to Wham)

Richard Wentworth
Tract (from Boost to Wham)

1993
Book with paper and plastics 8 x 10 x 24 cm / 3 x 4 x 9 1/2 in.

Twain

Richard Wentworth
Twain

1992
Painted stainless steel, plastic, cable 89 x 35 x 26 cm / 35 x 14 x 10 in.

Fat Chance

Richard Wentworth
Fat Chance

1991
Galvanised steel & brass 30 x 52 x 33 cm / 11.8 x 20.5 x 13 in

Man and the Animals #2

Richard Wentworth
Man and the Animals #2

1991
Galvanised steel with tins 26 x 26.5 x 15.2 cm / 10 x 10 x 6 in.

Reservoir

Richard Wentworth
Reservoir

1988
Steel and lead 76 x 57 x 51 cm / 30 x 22 1/2 x 20 in.

Unmatched Pair (Jerusalem)

Richard Wentworth
Unmatched Pair (Jerusalem)

1986
Galvanised steel and linen 46 x 61 x 39 cm / 18 x 24 x 15 in.

Domino

Richard Wentworth
Domino

1984
Granite and paper 60 x 50 x 37 cm / 23 1/2 x 19 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.

Antarctica with Lead Balls

Richard Wentworth
Antarctica with Lead Balls

1984
Enamelled steel, polythene and lead 66 x 66 x 32 cm / 26 x 26 x 12 1/2 in.

England, 1978. Making do and getting by

Richard Wentworth
England, 1978. Making do and getting by

1978
Unique colour photograph 43.5 x 51 6.5 cm / 17 x 20 x 2 1/2 in.

London, 1976. Making Do and Getting By

Richard Wentworth
London, 1976. Making Do and Getting By

1976
C-type print 43.5 x 51 x 6.5 cm 17 x 20 x 2.5 in.

Exhibitions

  1. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    30 January – 9 March 2013

  2. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    8 September – 8 October 2005

  3. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    2 November – 4 December 1999

  4. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    25 March – 22 April 1995

  5. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    5 June – 1 July 1989

  6. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    9 June – 12 July 1986

  7. Richard Wentworth - past exhibition

    Richard Wentworth

    27 June – 21 July 1984

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