Raphaël Barontini Unveils 'Unbound' Installation at Royal Ontario Museum for 2026 Toronto Biennial
The Royal Ontario Museum has introduced a significant new installation by French-Caribbean artist Raphaël Barontini, situated in the Hyacinth Gloria Chen Court. Titled 'Unbound: The Allegorical Archipelago of Abya Yala,' this artwork will be displayed from September 26, 2026, to August 29, 2027, coinciding with the 2026 Toronto Biennial of Art, marking the Museum’s inaugural involvement in this event. Comprising five large panels that are hand-dyed and screen-printed, the installation illustrates migration narratives above a dinosaur skeleton. Visitors can enjoy this exhibition for free during the museum's pilot initiative from September 25 to November 30, 2026.
Key facts
- Raphaël Barontini created 'Unbound: The Allegorical Archipelago of Abya Yala' for the Royal Ontario Museum
- The installation is on view from September 26, 2026, to August 29, 2027
- It is part of the 2026 Toronto Biennial of Art, ROM's first participation in the Biennial
- The work is displayed in the Hyacinth Gloria Chen Court on ROM's main floor
- It consists of five immense hand-dyed and screen-printed panels telling the story of migration
- The installation soars above ROM's Futalognkosaurus dinosaur skeleton
- Free viewing is available during ROM's Free Main Floor pilot from September 25 to November 30, 2026
- Barontini is a celebrated French-Caribbean artist known for large-scale montages
Entities
Artists
Institutions
Locations
- Toronto
- Canada