Barnaby Barford
b. 1977

“Brilliantly puckish, and something of an agent provocateur. By seduction and guile, his work exposes our inner frailties, prejudices and desires, holding up a mirror to us both metaphorically as well - on occasion - physically. Few are so incisive and insightful.”

Alun Graves, Senior Curator of the Ceramics and Glass Collection at the V&A.

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Education
 

2000/02 MA Ceramics and Glass Royal College of Art
1999 ISIA, Faenza, Italy Erasmus Socrates exchange programme
1997/2000 BA(Hons) First 3D design University of Plymouth, Exeter

Teaching
 

2004 to present, Central Saint Martins, London, Associate Lecturer 

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Working across drawing, sculpture, film, installation and painting, Barnaby uses familiar iconography such as the humble Apple, to subvert the telling of ancient cautionary tales within a contemporary context. Whilst a witty cultural critique characterised his early porcelain figurines, his more recent sculptures, drawings and digital paintings construct layered narratives through repetition and accumulation.

In Barford’s Word Drawings, abstract pictures are made by writing the same word over and over again. By incessantly repeating words such as Hope, Glory, Truth and Love, Barford asks us to reevaluate their meaning in today’s complex socio-cultural environment.

Although Barford produces work in a wide variety of materials, he consistently returns to ceramics. Utilising his knowledge of ceramic manufacturing processes he is able to further explore accumulation, repetition and deviation to create monumental artworks such as The Tower of Babel (V&A 2015) and unique artworks such as The Seven Deadly Sins mirrors from thousands of industrially produced pieces.

Whether using shops, apples, flowers or words, throughout his work, Barnaby holds up a mirror to society, prompting us to look again and reflect upon inequalities, obsessions and systems of belief.

Barford has exhibited internationally with major solo shows across Europe and the US, including a survey show at MOCA Virginia (2013). His work is part of many public and private collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, Texas, and the National Libraries of France and the Netherlands. 

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Public Collections

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Museum of Fine Art, Houston, Texas, USA
National Museum, Sweden
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
The Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Crafts Council, London, UK
Shipley Art Gallery, Tyne & Wear Museums, UK
The Paintings in Hospitals Collection, UK
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, UK
The National Library of the Netherlands
The National Library of France
Public Library of Reims, France
Public Library of Limoges, France

 

Awards

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2016 h.Club 100 award in Art, Design & Craft, The Hospital Club, London
2007 Medal of the President of the Italian Republic International Competition of Ceramic Art, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
2005 Wallpaper* Young Designer of the Year

 

Selected Public & Private Commissions

 

2016 Permanent Public Artwork, London Borough of Waltham Forest
2013 Louis Vuitton permanent sculptures for Louis Vuitton Selfridges
2011 The Big Win, The Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, Arts Council England
2009 Mirrors for International Corporate Art, Miami
2008 Film for Animate Projects, Channel 4 and Arts Council England
2007 Wallpaper* Fashion Story
2004 Nativity Scene, David Gill Galleries, London
2003 Ceramic work, LCA Contemporary Art Ltd, Oslo
2003 Installation, Applied Arts Agency, Clerkenwell, London
2003 Installation, Saatchi and Saatchi, London