Represented artist
Richard Deacon
Bangor, Wales, UK, 1949. Based in London
Statement
Richard Deacon is one of the most important contemporary British sculptors, whose work is originated in the early 1980s. A work that rejects the heroic formalism and sometimes oppressive monumentality of the previous generation, in favor of an interest in forms and objects reminiscent of everyday situations and accidental events.
Known for an impressive and sometimes unexpected use of various materials (wood, cement, steel, iron, polycarbonate, vinyl, clay, leather, foam, ceramic and marble), the works of Richard Deacon are characterized by voluptuous and sinuous abstract forms.
A refined virtuosity accompanies every one of its construction: curves, twists, bends, turns and looping curves cross the space like three-dimensional drawings, others hover on the floor like large drops of liquid. The shapes he creates evoke the material world of everyday artifacts and the inner world of the body, such as frames or thoracic cages, but in reality during his career Deacon pushed and challenged the materials he used managing to do his job something that looks like nothing else.
The monumental sculptures by Richard Deacon explore the nature of opposites, questioning some essential but contradictory elements: hardness and malleability, organic and geometric, grace and unease. Often it is the tension between the two aspects, the unusual shape, the casing - like a superficial skin that is at the same time a tangible work and an alien form, that makes Deacon's art so surprising, mysterious, that it often asks more questions than how many it solves.
The choice of materials and their manipulation are fundamental for him; carefully chosen materials, which have to do with both form and content and thought.
In the work, behind the finished object, the construction and aspects of manufacture remain visible: the glue dripping between the layers of wood, the screws and rivets that protrude from the steel sheets, the hand-made carvings.
Deacon tends to use materials produced in sheets, concentrating on flexible, pliable materials, but not like clay and even less stone.
Richard Deacon was born in Bangor, Wales, UK in 1949 and lives and works in London, UK. He has a BA from St Martin’s School of Art, London, UK (1972) and an MA in Environmental Media from the Royal College of Art, London, UK (1977). Solo exhibitions include Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium (2017); San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA, USA (2017); Prague City Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic (2017); Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany (2016), Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Switzerland (2015); Tate Britain, London, UK (2014); Sprengel Museum, Hannover, Germany (2011); Musée de la Ville de Strasbourg, France (2010); Portland Art Museum, Oregon, USA (2008); PS1 Contemporary Art Center, New York, USA (2001); MACCSI, Caracas, Venezuela (1996); Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, UK (1989) and Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, USA (1988). He represented Wales at the Venice Biennale, Italy (2007) and has participated in the Venice Architecture Biennale, Italy (2012), Glasgow International, UK (2006) and documenta 9, Kassel, Germany (1992). He won the Turner Prize in 1987 and the Robert Jakobsen Prize, Museum Wurth, Kunzelsau, Germany in 1995. He was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the Ministry of Culture, France in 1996 and made a CBE in 1999.
Installation views
Works
Wood and epoxy
52 × 240 × 120 cm
Fine Art Giclée print on Cotton paper
35.5 × 20 cm
Resin and steel
16.2 × 6 × 15 cm
Wood
43.5 × 17.5 × 12 cm
Resin and steel
13 × 6 × 15 cm
Fine Art Giclée print on Cotton paper
35.5 × 20 cm
Fine Art Giclée print on Cotton paper
35.5 × 20 cm
Fine Art Giclée print on Cotton paper
35.5 × 20 cm
Fine Art Giclée print on Cotton paper
35.5 × 20 cm
Ink and pencil on paper
20.5 × 29.5 cm
Coloured ink and pencil on paper
20.5 × 29.5 cm
Drawings on paper
62 × 45 cm
Exhibitions
- DüsseldorfBEDRichard Deacon13 March – 12 April 2025
- PalermoGARDENLoris Cecchini, Richard Deacon, Daniele Franzella30 November 2024 – 1 February 2025
- PalermoEditionsRichard Deacon, Katharina Maderthaner27 April – 8 June 2019
- PalermoDEACON - MADERTHANERRichard Deacon, Katharina Maderthaner26 April – 26 June 2019
News
- 24 September 2026FairRichard Deacon at Contemporary Istanbul 2026 with Galerie Thomas SchulteWorks by Richard Deacon are part of Galerie Thomas Schulte's booth B106 at Contemporary Istanbul, 24–27 September 2026.Contemporary Istanbul, Tersane Istanbul — Galerie Thomas Schulte, booth B106, Istanbul
- 4 July 2026ExhibitionRichard Deacon: Just Looking at Galerie Thomas Schulte, BerlinSolo exhibition of new prints, ceramic and steel sculptures by Richard Deacon at Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin, 4 July – 15 August 2026.Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin
- 18 June 2026FairRichard Deacon at Art Basel 2026 with Galerie Thomas SchulteRichard Deacon is among the artists listed for Galerie Thomas Schulte's booth C03 at Art Basel, 18–21 June 2026.Art Basel, Hall 2.0 — Galerie Thomas Schulte, booth C03, Basel
- 16 April 2026ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Drawing Biennial 2026 at Drawing Room, LondonRichard Deacon contributes the drawing Halloween (2025) to Drawing Biennial 2026 at Drawing Room, London, 16 April – 23 June 2026.Drawing Room, London
- 9 April 2026FairRizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2026RizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2026 with Daniele Franzella, Francesco De Grandi, Richard Deacon and Katharina Maderthaner.Art Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- 1 March 2026ExhibitionRichard Deacon in The museum in motion at the Musée d'art contemporain de la Haute-Vienne – Château de RochechouartRichard Deacon is included in the 40th-anniversary collection exhibition of the Château de Rochechouart museum, 1 March – 13 December 2026.Musée d'art contemporain de la Haute-Vienne – Château de Rochechouart, Rochechouart
- 24 February 2026ProjectColours In The Air by David Batchelor, Richard Deacon and Fedja Klikovac screened at Piccadilly Lights, LondonA ten-minute screening of Colours In The Air at Piccadilly Circus marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Piccadilly Lights, Piccadilly Circus, London
- 5 February 2026FairRizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2026RizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2026 with Daniele Franzella, Mattia Barbieri, Richard Deacon, Francesco De Grandi, Luigi Presicce and Lucio Pozzi.Arte Fiera, Bologna
- 23 December 2025ExhibitionAntonio Catelani, Daniele Franzella, Francesca Polizzi, Francesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri, Katharina Maderthaner, Lucio Pozzi, Luigi Presicce, Marcello Buffa, Linda Carrara, Anna Capolupo, Andrea Di Marco, Richard Deacon, Tania Giordano, Pietro Leone, Gabriele Massaro and Cosimo Rizzuto in Gallery Party 2025 at RizzutoGallery, PalermoLucio Pozzi shows the painting Liminal pass (2017) in Gallery Party 2025, at RizzutoGallery in Palermo from 23 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 21 December 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in (In)visible Presence, the inaugural exhibition of Dib BangkokRichard Deacon is among the forty artists in (In)visible Presence, the opening exhibition of Dib Bangkok, 21 December 2025 – 3 August 2026.Dib Bangkok, Bangkok
- 29 November 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Rotation at Galerie Thomas Schulte, BerlinRichard Deacon's glazed ceramic No Black (2013) is part of the group exhibition Rotation at Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin, until 7 February 2026.Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin
- 12 November 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon: Range at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD), TiranaRichard Deacon's exhibition Range opened at the Center for Openness and Dialogue in Tirana on 12 November 2025, as part of UK Culture Week.Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD), Tirana
- 3 September 2025FairRichard Deacon at Frieze Seoul 2025 with STPISTPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery shows Richard Deacon at Frieze Seoul 2025, booth B07, COEX, 3–6 September 2025.Frieze Seoul, COEX — STPI, booth B07, Seoul
- 29 June 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in I / witness / gold-paved / Shanghai at the START Museum, ShanghaiRichard Deacon is included in the START Museum's annual exhibition I / witness / gold-paved / Shanghai, open from 29 June 2025.START Museum, Shanghai
- 3 June 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon: Looking for Something at the Museum of Contemporary Art, SkopjeSolo exhibition of recent sculptures and prints by Richard Deacon at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje, 3 June – 17 August 2025.Museum of Contemporary Art – Skopje, Skopje
- 29 May 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon at Galerija Manuš, SplitGalerija Manuš, Split, presents drawings and wooden sculptures by Richard Deacon from 29 May to 1 August 2025.Galerija Manuš, Split
- 18 May 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Blickachsen 14, Bad HomburgRichard Deacon is one of the 26 artists of the sculpture biennial Blickachsen 14 in Bad Homburg, 18 May – 5 October 2025.Blickachsen 14 — Kurpark, Schlosspark and Gustavsgarten, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe
- 22 March 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in New Releases Old Friends at STPI, SingaporeEarlier works made by Richard Deacon at STPI are shown in the group exhibition New Releases Old Friends, Singapore, 22 March – 4 May 2025.STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery, Singapore
- 20 March 2025TalkRichard Deacon in the panel In Dialogue with Angela Bulloch, Richard Deacon, Janice Kerbel, Pae White and Jim Amberson at STPIOn 20 March 2025 Richard Deacon is a panellist in a discussion at STPI, Singapore, previewing the exhibition New Releases Old Friends.STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery, Singapore
- 13 March 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon: BED at RizzutoGallery, DüsseldorfRizzutoGallery presents BED, a solo exhibition by Richard Deacon, in its Düsseldorf venue from 13 March to 12 April 2025.RizzutoGallery, Düsseldorf
- 5 March 2025FairRichard Deacon at ARCO Madrid 2025 with Galerie Thomas SchulteRichard Deacon is among the artists on view at Galerie Thomas Schulte's booth 7C05 at ARCO Madrid, 5–9 March 2025.ARCO Madrid — Galerie Thomas Schulte, booth 7C05, Madrid
- 26 February 2025OtherRichard Deacon joins RizzutoGalleryRizzutoGallery announces the representation of the British sculptor Richard Deacon, Turner Prize winner in 1987.
- 15 February 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon in L.A. Louver Celebrates 50 Years, Venice, CaliforniaRichard Deacon is among the more than fifty artists in the 50th-anniversary exhibition of L.A. Louver, 15 February – 26 July 2025.L.A. Louver, Venice, California
- 27 January 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon at Galerija Manuš, ZagrebAn exhibition of works by Richard Deacon is on view at Galerija Manuš, Zagreb, until 1 March 2025.Galerija Manuš, Zagreb
- 22 January 2025ExhibitionRichard Deacon: In Search of Something at the Modern Gallery, PodgoricaRichard Deacon's solo exhibition In Search of Something is on view at the Modern Gallery in Podgorica, Montenegro, from 22 January 2025.Modern Gallery (Moderna galerija, Muzeji i galerije Podgorice), Podgorica
- 14 January 2025TalkRichard Deacon in conversation with Carina Plath at the Sprengel Museum HannoverOn 14 January 2025 Richard Deacon talks with curator Carina Plath at the Sprengel Museum Hannover, during the exhibition SKULPTUREN ERFASSEN.Sprengel Museum Hannover, Hannover
- 30 November 2024ExhibitionGARDEN: Loris Cecchini, Richard Deacon and Daniele Franzella at RizzutoGallery, PalermoDaniele Franzella shows five works in GARDEN, with Loris Cecchini and Richard Deacon, at RizzutoGallery, Palermo, until 1 February 2025.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 13 November 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon in SKULPTUREN ERFASSEN at the Sprengel Museum HannoverWorks by Tony Cragg, Richard Deacon and Barbara Hepworth are shown together at the Sprengel Museum Hannover, 13 November 2024 – 4 May 2025.Sprengel Museum Hannover, Hannover
- 26 October 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Your Patience Is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show at Marian Goodman Gallery, New YorkRichard Deacon is included in the exhibition that opens Marian Goodman Gallery's new Tribeca headquarters on 26 October 2024.Marian Goodman Gallery, New York
- 1 October 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon takes part in the 10gram Challenge 2024 of the Royal Society of SculptorsRichard Deacon's bronze Small SculptureThomas Dane Gallery (Royal Society of Sculptors, 10gram Challenge), London
- 19 September 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon: Looking for Something at DOTS Gallery, BelgradeRichard Deacon's first solo exhibition in Serbia is on view at DOTS Gallery, Belgrade, from 19 September to 7 December 2024.DOTS Gallery, Belgrade
- 17 September 2024TalkRichard Deacon gives the lecture In Search of Something at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, BelgradeOn 17 September 2024 Richard Deacon lectures in the Grand Hall of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, two days before his Belgrade exhibition opens.Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA), Grand Hall, Belgrade
- 23 August 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon: Made of This at Galleri Susanne Ottesen, CopenhagenSolo exhibition of new works by Richard Deacon at Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, 23 August – 5 October 2024.Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen
- 29 June 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon: About Us at Galerie Thomas Schulte, BerlinGalerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin, shows a steel sculpture and a wall drawing by Richard Deacon in its Corner Space, 29 June – 24 August 2024.Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin
- 11 June 2024AwardRichard Deacon named Accademico d'Onore by the Accademia di Belle Arti di PalermoOn 11 June 2024 the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo confers the title of Accademico d'Onore on Richard Deacon.Cinema Vittorio De Seta, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo
- 25 May 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon at the Peter Marino Art Foundation, Southampton, New YorkThe Peter Marino Art Foundation presents a solo exhibition of Richard Deacon's wood sculptures, 25 May – 13 July 2024.Peter Marino Art Foundation, Southampton, New York
- 22 May 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Made in Cologne at Peter Freeman, Inc., New YorkRichard Deacon is among the fifteen artists in Made in Cologne, an exhibition of ceramics made in Niels Dietrich's atelier, New York, 22 May – 26 July 2024.Peter Freeman, Inc., New York
- 3 May 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Drawing Biennial 2024 at Drawing Room, LondonRichard Deacon donates a drawing to Drawing Biennial 2024, on view at Drawing Room, London, from 3 May to 3 July 2024.Drawing Room, London
- 25 April 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Contemporary collecting: David Hockney to Cornelia Parker at the British MuseumRichard Deacon is among the artists in the British Museum's display of prints and drawings acquired since 1960, 25 April – 29 September 2024.The British Museum, Gallery 90, London
- 27 March 2024Public commissionA new sculpture by Richard Deacon for Beaufort 24 in Knokke-HeistFor the eighth Beaufort Triennial on the Belgian coast, Richard Deacon makes a stainless steel sculpture for the Burgemeester de Ghelderepark in Heist-aan-Zee.Beaufort 24 — Burgemeester de Ghelderepark, Heist-aan-Zee, Knokke-Heist
- 13 January 2024ExhibitionRichard Deacon: New Works at Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris MaraisThaddaeus Ropac presents new ceramic and steel sculptures and drawings by Richard Deacon in Paris, 13 January – 6 April 2024.Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris Marais, Paris
- 3 November 2023ExhibitionRichard Deacon in NOW HERE, THEN THERE: PART 2 at Galleri Susanne Ottesen, CopenhagenRichard Deacon's ceramic Another Country (2001) is part of the group exhibition NOW HERE, THEN THERE: PART 2, Copenhagen, 3 November 2023 – 3 February 2024.Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen
- 15 October 2023ExhibitionRichard Deacon in Sediment Spirit: The Activation of Art in the Anthropocene at the Sainsbury Centre, NorwichRichard Deacon is among the artists of Sediment Spirit, an exhibition on art and the climate crisis at the Sainsbury Centre, 15 October 2023 – 14 April 2024.Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich