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)

Richard Wentworth
Havana

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

Richard Wentworth
Chok

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

Richard Wentworth
Here and Now

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

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

Richard Wentworth
A Room Full of Lovers

2013
Steel welded chain
Dimensions variable

Richard Wentworth
Caledonian Road, London, 2007

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

Richard Wentworth
Beijing, 2007

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

Richard Wentworth
South East Spain, 2007

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

Richard Wentworth
Plume

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

Richard Wentworth
The Light of Day

2011

Digital print, antiqued mirror and nails

Richard Wentworth
Firma Terra Firma Terra

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

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.

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.

Richard Wentworth
Mirror, Mirror

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

Richard Wentworth
Fort (For Marie Antoinette)

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

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.

Richard Wentworth
Le Baton

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

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

1999
Book, assorted materials on mirrored glass Dimensions variable

Richard Wentworth
Flight (Two Storey Rorschach)

1999
Ceramic plates, steel pins Dimensions variable

Richard Wentworth
Spread

1997
Ceramic plates Diameter: 600 cm / 236 in.

Richard Wentworth
False Ceiling

1995
Books and steel cable Dimensions variable

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.

Richard Wentworth
Late 20th Century Flag

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

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.

Richard Wentworth
Twain

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

Richard Wentworth
Fat Chance

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

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.

Richard Wentworth
Reservoir

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

Richard Wentworth
Unmatched Pair (Jerusalem)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Richard Wentworth

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

Exhibitions