The Barbican in London will present a major commission by Colombian artist Delcy Morelos, her first in the United Kingdom, from May 15 to July 31. The centerpiece is an oval-shaped pavilion measuring roughly 78 feet in circumference, constructed from soil, clay, spices, and plant materials, sited in the Barbican's outdoor Sculpture Court. It is the third public-realm commission by the Barbican and the first in its Sculpture Court. The project is supported by the London-based Bukhman Foundation, founded by Anastasia Bukhman, a new addition to ARTnews's Top 200 Collectors list.
This commission matters because it marks a significant expansion of Morelos's practice into the UK, following her acclaimed installations at the 2022 Venice Biennale and the Dia Art Foundation in New York in 2023, for which she won the inaugural ARTnews Award for Established Artist of the Year. The work continues her exploration of earth, materiality, and ancestral wisdom, inviting viewers to physically engage with fragile, immersive environments. The Barbican's choice to restore its Sculpture Court to its original purpose through this installation underscores a broader institutional commitment to bold, participatory public art.