Beatriz González's First UK Retrospective at Barbican Reveals Political Paintings
The Barbican Art Gallery in London is hosting the first UK retrospective of Colombian artist Beatriz González (1932–2026), which will be open until 10 May. This exhibition spans six decades of her distinctive 'bad painting' approach, characterized by vivid colors and sharp political insights. It addresses cultural imperialism through reinterpretations of masterpieces such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Vermeer's The Lacemaker. Her early works, emerging from Colombia's post-La Violencia period, incorporate local themes alongside nods to artists like Picasso and Warhol. The display features found objects, an archive of clippings, and emphasizes her focus on political violence following the M-19 guerrilla takeover. The retrospective concludes with Anonymous Auras (2007–09), a collaboration with Doris Salcedo, and comes after her passing on 9 January 2026.
Key facts
- Beatriz González's first UK retrospective is at Barbican Art Gallery, London through 10 May
- González (1932–2026) called her work 'bad painting' and used it for political commentary
- The exhibition includes paintings, serigraphic drawings, and intervened found objects like painted furniture
- Works reference European art icons such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Vermeer's The Lacemaker
- González's early practice responded to Colombia's post-La Violencia industrial development in the 1960s
- The show features a section of her archive of newspaper clippings, postcards, and photocopies
- A prior iteration of the exhibition was held at Pinacoteca de São Paulo in 2025
- The exhibition closes with a small-scale version of Anonymous Auras (2007–09), a site-specific installation created with Doris Salcedo
Entities
Artists
- Beatriz González
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Édouard Manet
- Johannes Vermeer
- Diego Velázquez
- Jean-François Millet
- Pablo Picasso
- Andy Warhol
- Fernando Botero
- Doris Salcedo
- Marta Traba
- Antonio María Martínez Bonza
Institutions
- Barbican Art Gallery
- Pinacoteca de São Paulo
- Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Colombia
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Bogotá
- Florence