Chris Ofili receives CBE, opens shows in London and Venice

Chris Ofili was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for his contributions to art. The honor, part of the Order of the British Empire established in 1917, was presented by Prince William. Ofili, born in Manchester in 1968, gained fame as the first Black artist to win the Turner Prize and as a Young British Artist, representing the UK at the 2003 Venice Biennale. Concurrently, the National Gallery in London exhibits his tapestry "The Caged Bird's Song" (2014–2017), commissioned by the Clothworkers' Company and woven in wool, cotton, and viscose. It is Ofili's first tapestry, blending classical and natural motifs on a blue ground, and will later be permanently installed at the Clothworkers' Hall. In Venice, Victoria Miro opens a new gallery in the former Il Capricorno space with Ofili's solo show "Poolside Magic" (May 10–July 1, 2017), featuring pastel, charcoal, and watercolor works inspired by magic, the occult, and Trinidad's landscapes. This marks Ofili's return to Venice after the 2003 and 2015 Biennales.