Modern Art Oxford exhibition re-evaluates Barbara Steveni's career beyond Artist Placement Group

Modern Art Oxford presents 'I Find Myself,' an exhibition examining Barbara Steveni's multifaceted career, running through 8 June 2025. Steveni, born in Persia (now Iran) in 1928 and died in 2020, co-founded the Artist Placement Group (APG) in 1965 with John Latham, aiming to integrate artists into corporate and governmental settings. The show features early works like untitled paintings from 1949-1952 and charcoal drawings from the 1940s-1950s, alongside later object-tableaux such as Untitled Assemblage works from 1958-1962. A centerpiece installation by Laure Prouvost, 'Dancing thought leftovers with Barbara' (2025), includes worn objects accumulated by Steveni with multichannel video projections. The exhibition highlights Steveni's later projects, including O+I's 1990s work in Southwark schools and 'I AM AN ARCHIVE' (2002-2015), which retells her history through video interviews and conferences. Despite her role in APG, Steveni was often perceived as an administrator due to sexism, obscuring her contributions. The show explores her struggle with the traditional artist identity while promoting creative engagement with society, as noted in archival materials like Arts Council correspondence criticizing APG for focusing on social engineering over art. Steveni's career reflects broader tensions between individual artistry and organizational roles in the art world.