The Barbican Reimagined

About

Artist Sarah Emily Porter invites audiences to reconsider their relationship with the built environment through a collection of geometric paintings, sculptures and furniture pieces inspired by the architectural design and eclectic spaces within the Barbican. On display you will discover the inner workings of Porter’s studio, from sketches to a scale model of her unique painting mechanism. You will also find a collaborative painting where Porter worked with Natacha Bizarre, who is both a visual artist and a dancer, to explore the movement and energy tied to the Barbican’s performative spaces.

Biography

British artist Sarah Emily Porter works from her East London studio where she explores colour, composition and form with a scientific and mathematical twist. She is often influenced by places she visits, using architectural geometries and mathematical sequences to form a framework for her work. Paint is poured on her specially made mechanisms which tilt the canvas from horizontal to vertical positions allowing gravity to inform the work. She describes this process as “a dialogue between art and science which removes the artist from the gesture and emotion of painting.” Through this method of painting, she instead highlights the complexity of colour and the intricacies of her materials. Having previously worked in the events industry she thinks of painting as “an event - one that is as much concerned with the process of its emergence as it is with the final outcome. Material, machine and artist each take their turn in leading or resisting the outcome and it is a sensitivity to this push and pull that drives the work.” Alongside her painting practice she collaborates with makers to create playful, sculptural works that bridge the gap between art, craft and design. A key theme within the work is the relationship between colour and form. Porter studied Architectural History at Durham University (2005-2008) before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts in 2016. She has won numerous accolades for her work, including the Broomhill National Sculpture Prize 2018 and New Ashgate Rising Stars Award 2021. Corporate commissions include the penthouse at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, Artelium Wine Estate and Liberty’s London. She has artwork in private collections across the world and has exhibited internationally including Paris, Czech Republic and South Korea. She has been recognised for her work in numerous publications including the Financial Times, House & Garden, Wallpaper*, Deezen, Elle Decoration and Architects’ Journal.