Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Widely considered to be one of the most important artists of her generation, Yiadom-Boakye is acclaimed for her enigmatic portraits of fictitious people. Her paintings often allude to historical European portraiture, yet her approach is decidedly contemporary. Intentionally removed from time and place, her characters raise questions of identity and representation. In Pass, a group of boys converses in a circle over a muted green background. The figures appear both quotidian and otherworldly, bringing to mind ideas of collectivity, intimacy and entertainment. In foregoing any specificity, the artist underscores that the subjects are ciphers for the viewer’s imagination and therefore open to interpretation.

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (1977, UK) lives and works in London. She has had solo shows in the Kunsthalle Basel, Serpentine Gallery in London, and New Museum in New York. Her work is in important collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She represents Ghana at the Venice Biennale 2019 and her first major survey will be presented at Tate Britain in 2020.