Locke in at Camden Art Centre

CAMDEN ART Centre is set to present a comprehensive survey of Guyanese-British artist Donald Locke. 

Spanning five decades, from the late 1960s to the last works he made before his death in 2010, this exhibition explores the development of Locke’s practice in Guyana, the UK and the United States. 

Despite his pivotal role in 20th century British sculpture and his significant contributions as a post-war artist of the Windrush Generation, Locke’s work has been under-recognised, particularly in the UK.

The exhibition includes early ‘biomorphic’ ceramics evocative of human and natural forms; mixed-media sculpture and paintings from the Plantation Series (c.1972–76); large-scale paintings that incorporate found images along with ceramic, metal and wood elements; as well as examples of his late work made in Atlanta, influenced by the assemblage traditions of the American South.

Locke’s practice is characterised by his evolving approach to different media, his formal ingenuity, and a consistent exploration of history, identity and subjugation.  

Following presentations at Spike Island, Bristol, and Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, last year, the final iteration of Resistant Forms at Camden Art Centre is a homecoming of sorts. 

Locke moved to London in 1970 following his years in Corsham and Edinburgh. 

He exhibited at Camden Art Centre on two occasions: first in 1970 when, under the pseudonym Issorosano Ite, a group of Locke’s large, biomorphic ceramic sculptures made while he was in Edinburgh were included in a group exhibition; and again in 1975, when his work was included in The London Group exhibition. 

Locke’s 2009–10 solo exhibition Pork Knocker Dreams at Nottingham Art Exchange and Wolverhampton Art Gallery was curated by Indra Khanna and featured work from the 1990s and 2000s. 

Other key works have been shown in landmark exhibitions in London, including Rasheed Araeen’s The Other Story at the Hayward Gallery in 1989; Back To Black: The Black Arts Movement at the Whitechapel in 2005; and most recently Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art, 1950s–Now at Tate Britain in 2021.

Donald Locke-Resistant Forms takes place between April 10-August 30, 2026 @ Camden Art Centre

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