Beatriz González's First UK Retrospective at Barbican Explores Memory and Violence

From February 25 to May 10, 2026, the Barbican Centre in London will host the first UK retrospective and the most comprehensive European exhibition of Colombian artist Beatriz González (1932–2026). Curated by Lotte Johnson, this exhibition showcases more than 150 works spanning six decades, including the notable 1965 series 'Los suicidas del Sisga'. González's artistry reinterprets mediated images and utilizes domestic furniture as artistic canvases. Her pieces confront political violence in Colombia, exemplified by 'Decoración de interiores' (1981), which critiques the regime of President Julio César Turbay Ayala. Following the 1985 Palace of Justice siege, her work increasingly focused on themes of mourning. González passed away on January 9, 2026, making this exhibition a posthumous homage. It is co-produced by the Barbican Centre, Pinacoteca de São Paulo, and Astrup Fearnley Museet.