
Material l, 2017
Hand painted bronze
27 1/2 x 39 x 29 7/8 in.
Wind Sculpture (SG) I, 2018
Hand-painted fiberglass resin cast
Courtesy Collection of Davidson College, NC, and James Cohan Gallery, NY
Photo: Jason Wyche, Courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY
Pan, 2018
Unique fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, bespoke hand-coloured globe, gold leaf and steel baseplate
56 5/8 x 33 3/8 x 23 1/2 in.
Apollo of the Belvedere (after Leochares)
2017
Unique fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, bespoke hand-coloured globe, gold leaf and steel baseplate
56 5/8 x 40 1/8 x 17 1/4 in.
144 x 102 x 44 cm
Girl Balancing Knowledge II
2016
Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, books, globe and steel baseplate
59 x 33 x 42 1/8 in.
150 x 84 x 107 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
The British Library
2014
Hardback books, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, gold foiled names, five wooden chairs, five iPads, iPad stands, headphones, interactive Application and antique wind-up clock
Installed at Turner Contemporary, Margate, England
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The British Library
Installation view at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, UK, 2014
Installation detail at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, UK, 2014
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
The Victorian Philanthropist's Parlour
1996-1997
Dutch wax printed fabric covered wood, cast iron, brass, marble, mirror, bound printed books, porcelain, glass, framed works on paper, and props
102 x 192 x 209 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
The Victorian Philanthropist's Parlour
1996-1997
Dutch wax printed fabric covered wood, cast iron, brass, marble, mirror, bound printed books, porcelain, glass, framed works on paper, and props
102 x 192 x 209 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Dorian Gray
2002
11 black and white resin prints, 1 digital lambda print
30 x 37 1/2 in. (each)
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Wind Sculpture VII
Installed at the National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C.
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Wind Sculpture VII
Installed at the National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C.
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
End of Empire
2016
Fibreglass mannequins, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, metal, wood, motor, globes and leather
116 1/2 x 200 3/4 x 39 in.
296 x 510 x 99 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Wind Sculpture VII
Installed at the National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Butterfly Kid (girl)
2015
Fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, silk, metal, globe and steel baseplate
49 3/16 x 41 5/16 x 29 7/8 in.
125 x 105 x 76 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Exhbition view at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 2016
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Ballet God (Poseidon)
2015
Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, trident, dagger, globe, pointe shoes and steel baseplate
82 1/4 x 87 x 35 3/8 in.
209 x 221 x 90 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Ballet God (Zeus)
2015
Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, lightning, gun, globe, pointe shoes and steel baseplate
92 7/8 x 61 x 55 1/16 in.
236 x 155 x 140 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Ballet God (Apollo)
2015
Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, lyre, sword, globe, pointe shoes and steel baseplate
75 15/16 x 33 13/16 x 33 7/16 in.
193 x 86 x 85 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Medusa East
2015
Digital chromogenic print, bespoke wood frame
Framed diameter: 44 7/8 in., 113.98 cm
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Butterfly Kid (boy)
2015
Fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, silk, metal, globe, leather and steel baseplate
50 x 29 1/2 x 34 5/8 in.
127 x 75 x 88 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Refugee Astronaut
2015
Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, net, possessions, astronaut helmet, moon boots and steel baseplate
81 7/8 x 36 9/16 x 35 3/8 in.
208 x 93 x 90 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Ghost of Eliza
2015
Installation shot at Morris Jumel Mansion
YINKA SHONIBARE , MBE
Wind Sculptures: MCA
Chicago Plaza Project
June - October, 2014
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Wind Sculptures: MCA
Chicago Plaza Project
June - October, 2014
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Wind Sculptures: MCA
Chicago Plaza Project
June - October, 2014
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Wind Sculptures: MCA
Chicago Plaza Project
June - October, 2014
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Wind Sculpture II
2013
Steel armature with hand painted fiberglass resin cast
240 x 133 5/16 x 31 3/16 in.
Installation view from the Yorkshire Sculptuure Park, Yorkshire, UK, 2013
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Magic Ladder Kid I
2013
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, fiberglass, wooden ladder, steel baseplate, globe
Overall: 118 x 48 x 31 1/2 in.
300 x 122 x 80 cm
Commissioned by The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
Installation view at the Barnes Foundation, Philidephia
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Magic Ladder Kid I
2013
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, fiberglass, wooden ladder, steel baseplate, globe
Overall: 118 x 48 x 31 1/2 in.
300 x 122 x 80 cm
Commissioned by The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
Installation view at The Barnes Foundation, Philidelphia
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Magic Ladder Kid III
2013
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, fiberglass, wooden ladder, steel baseplate, globe
Overall: 118 x 48 x 31 1/2 in.
300 x 122 x 80 cm
Commissioned by The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
Installation view at the Barnes Foundation, Philidelphia
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Copenhagen Girl with Hole in Her Head
2013
Fiberglass, Dutch wax-printed cotton, globe, steel
Overall: 112 1/16 x 48 5/16 x 43 1/4 in.
285 x 124 x 111 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Flower Power Kid (Suicide)
2013
Mannequin, Dutch wax African cotton textile, steel baseplate, leather, fibreglass, globe head, decommissioned revolver, fabric flowers, wire
44 x 43 1/16 x 13 1/4 in.
112 x 110 x 35 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Homeless Child 3
2013
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, fibreglass, globe head, steel base plate, leather suitcases
106 1/16 x 25 3/16 x 39 1/8 in.
270 x 65 x 100 cm
Installation view at DHC/ART, Montreal
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Gentleman Walking a Tightrope
2006
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, and tightrope
89 5/16 x 122 x 45 1/4 in.
Installation view at the Akron Museum of Art, Akron, Ohio
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
New York Toy Painting
2012
Emulsion, acrylic on Dutch wax fabric, 27 panels
98 3/8 x 244 1/8 x 6 1/4 in.
250 x 620 x 15 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
New York Toy Painting (detail)
2012
Emulsion, acrylic on Dutch wax fabric, 27 panels
98 3/8 x 244 1/8 x 6 1/4 in.
250 x 620 x 15 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Black Gold II
2006
Acrylic paint on wall, acrylic on 25 Dutch wax printed cotton canvases
130 x 265 in.
Installation view at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Yorkshire, UK, 2013
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Revolution Kid (fox girl)
2012
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, fibreglass, leather, taxidermy fox head, steel base plate, BlackBerry and 24 carat gold gilded gun
44 x 36 x 30 in.
111.8 x 91.4 x 76.2 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Homeless Child 1
2012
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, fibreglass, globe head, steel base plate, leather suitcases
106 1/16 x 25 3/16 x 39 1/8 in.
270 x 65 x 100 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fake Death Picture (The Death of Chatterton - Henry Wallis)
2011
Digital chromogenic print
Framed: 58 5/8 x 71 1/4 x 1 5/8 in.
148.91 x 180.98 x 4.1 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fake Death Picture (The Death of St Francis - Bartolomé Carducho)
2011
Digital chromogenic print
Framed: 58 5/8 x 72 x 1 5/8 in.
148.91 x 182.9 x 4.1 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fake Death Picture (The Suicide - Leonardo Alenza)
2011
Digital chromogenic print
Framed: 76 3/8 x 58 5/8 x 1 5/8 in.
193.99 x 148.91 x 4.1 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fake Death Picture (The Suicide - Manet)
2011
Digital chromogenic print
Framed: 58 1/2 x 71 1/4 x 1 5/8 in.
148.59 x 180.98 x 4.1 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fake Death Picture (The Death of Leonardo da Vinci in the Arms of Francis I - Francois-Guillaume Ménageot)
2011
Digital chromogenic print
Framed: 58 3/4 x 72 5/8 x 1 5/8 in.
149.23 x 184.47 x 4.1 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fanny's Dress
2011
Dutch wax printed cotton textile
81 3/4 x 36 x 36 in.
207.7 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm
Installation view at the Queen's House, Greenwich, UK
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Nelson's Jacket
2011
Dutch wax printed cotton textile
81 3/4 x 36 x 36 in.
207.7 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm
Installation view at the Queen's House, Greenwich, UK
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Planets in My Head, Physics
2010
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, leather and fiberglass
50 x 26 3/8 x 19 5/8 in.
127 x 67 x 50 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Air
2010
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, wood, metal weather vein and metal baseplate
70 7/8 x 27 1/2 x 51 1/8 in.
180 x 70 x 130 cm
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Earth
2010
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, wood, metal base and globe
183 x 140 x 165 cm
72 x 55 ¼ x 65 in
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Water
2010
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, Leather and wood
143 x 75 x 88 cm
56 ¼ x 29 ½ x 35 5/8 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Fire
2010
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather, wood, brass, lamp stand, glass lamp shade, circuit board, and LED
184 x 110 x 70 cm
72 ½ x 43 ¼ x 27 ½ in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle
2010
Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London
Photo: Stephen White
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle
2010
Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London
Photo: Stephen White
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle
2010
Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London
Photo: Stephen White
Exhibiton view at Perez Art Museum Miami
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Man on Flying Machine
2008
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, steel, rubber and aluminum
Mannequin: Approximately 61 x 23.6 x 27.6 in.
Flying Machine: 78.7 x 23.6 x 35.4 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Boy on Flying Machine
2008
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, steel, rubber and aluminum
Mannequin: Approximately 40.2 x 21.7 x 25.6 in.
Flying Machine: 65 x 22 x 31.5 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Girl on Flying Machine
2008
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, steel, rubber and aluminum
Mannequin: Approximately 39.4 x 23.6 x 21.7 in.
Flying Machine: 65 x 22 x 31.5 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Woman on Flying Machine
2008
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, steel, rubber and aluminum
Mannequin: Approximately 53.1 x 39.4 x 31.5 in.
Flying Machine: 78.7 x 23.6 x 35.4 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
La Méduse
2008
Wood, foam, plexiglas, Dutch wax-printed fabric, and acrylic paint
83 1/2 X 66 X 54 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
La Méduse
2008
Wood, foam, plexiglas, Dutch wax-printed fabric, and acrylic paint
83 1/2 X 66 X 54 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
La Méduse
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
72 X 94 in.
Edition of 10
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Age of Enlightenment - Adam Smith
2008
Life-size fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, mixed media
Figure: 70 X 43 1/2 X 33 1/2 in.
Plinth: 4' 11" X 5' 7" X 5"
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Age of Enlightenment - Immanuel Kant
2008
Life-size fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, mixed media
Figure: 29 1/2 X 41 X 31 1/2 in.
Plinth: 7' 4 1/2" X 6' 10 1/2" X 6"
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Age of Enlightenment - Jean le Rond d'Alembert
2008
Life-size fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, mixed media
Figure: 65 1/2 X 25 1/2 X 30 in.
Plinth: 4' 11" X 4' 11" X 3"
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Age of Enlightenment - Gabrielle Emile Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise de Chatelet
2008
Life-size fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, mixed media
Figure: 46 1/2 X 25 1/2 X 33 1/2 in.
Plinth: 6' 7" X 6' 7" X 4"
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Age of Enlightenment - Antoine Lavoisier
2008
Life-size fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton, mixed media
Wheelchair with figure: 47 X 28 1/2 X 47 in.
Plinth: 10' X 9' 4" X 3 1/2"
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (America)
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
Image size: 72 X 49.5 in.
Framed: 81.5 x 58 x 2.5 in.
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Africa)
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
Image size: 72 X 49.5 in.
Framed: 81.5 x 58 x 2.5 in.
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Asia)
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
Image size: 72 X 49.5 in.
Framed: 81.5 x 58 x 2.5 in.
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Australia)
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
Image size: 72 X 49.5 in.
Framed: 81.5 x 58 x 2.5 in.
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Europe)
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
Image size: 72 X 49.5 in.
Framed: 81.5 x 58 x 2.5 in.
Edition of 5
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
How to Blow up Two Heads at Once (Ladies)
2006
Two mannequins, two guns, Dutch, wax printed cotton textile, shoes, leather riding boots, plinth
93 1/2 X 63 X 48 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Boy With Fishing Rod on Stilts
2006
Mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile
89 3/8 X 59 in.
YINKA SHONIBARE, MBE
Wanderer
2006
Wood, Plexiglas, fabric, brass
67 3/4 X 48 X 17 1/4 in.
Edition of 8
YINKA SHONIBARE MBE
Orange Blob
2006
Acrylic on Dutch wax printed textile and wall paint
Variable dimensions
Photo © Royal Academy of Arts, London; photographer Marcus Leith
Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA) was born in London in 1962 and moved to Lagos, Nigeria at the age of three. He returned to the UK to study Fine Art at Byam Shaw School of Art, London and Goldsmiths College, London, where he received his Master’s in Fine Art.
Over the past decades, Shonibare has become well known for his exploration of colonialism and post-colonialism within the contemporary context of globalization. Working in painting, sculpture, photography, film and installation, Shonibare’s work examines race, class and the construction of cultural identity through a sharp political commentary of the tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe and their respective economic and political histories. Shonibare uses wry citations of Western art history and literature to question the validity of contemporary cultural and national identities.
In 2002, Shonibare was commissioned by Okwui Enwezor to create one of his most recognised installations, Gallantry and Criminal Conversation for Documenta XI. In 2004, he was nominated for the Turner Prize and was awarded the decoration of Member of the ‘Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’, or MBE. In 2008, his mid-career survey commenced at Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and toured to the Brooklyn Museum, New York and the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C. In 2010, his first public art commission Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle was displayed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London.
In 2013, Shonibare was elected as a Royal Academician and his most recent contributions have included: the RA Family Album, which was used to wrap Burlington Gardens building during construction and his two curated rooms which were part of the 2017 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, during which Wind Sculpture VI was also displayed in the RA courtyard.
His new commission with the Public Art Fund, Wind Sculpture (SG) I, opens at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park from 7 March until 14 October 2018. Front International will present The American Library at the Cleveland Public Library from July 14 until September 30 2018.
Shonibare’s works are included in notable collections internationally, including the Tate Collection, London; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C; Museum of Modern Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome and VandenBroek Foundation, The Netherlands.