About the work

Dean’s immersive sculptural installations begin with his own writing, which he translates into physical form, from letter-like human-scale figures to self-published books deployed as sculptural elements within his installations. His materials are readily available and include concrete and steel reinforcement bars. His sculptures are exposed to the elements as he works on them outdoors.

Date and country of birth

1977, GB>

About the artist

Michael Dean (b. 1977, Newcastle Upon Tyne) lives and works in London. Graduated from Goldsmiths College, London (2001). He was nominated for the Hepworth Prize for Sculpture (2018); the Turner Prize (2016); and received the Paul Hamlyn Formation Award (2014). Residencies include the Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge (2013); Lenikus Artist in Residence Programme, Vienna (2012); the Zabludowicz Collection, Sarvisalo (2011); the Henry Moore Institute Research Fellowship, Leeds (2009); Feurig59, Berlin (2008); and Expositio International Residency, Naples (2007). Select solo exhibitions include Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City (2019); St Carthage Hall, Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore (2019); Having you on, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (2018); ShanghArt Gallery, Shanghai (2018); Four Fucksakes, Herald St, London (2017); Teaxths and Angeruage, Portikus, Frankfurt (2017); Sic Glyphs, South London Gallery, London (2016); Stamen Papers, Fondazione Giuliani, Rome (2016); Lost True Leaves, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas (2016); and Government, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds (2012). Select group exhibitions include S.M.A.K., Ghent (2019); Scripts, Bielefelder Kunstverein, Bielefeld (2018); Give Up The Ghost, Baltic Triennial 13, Tallinn (2018); Raymond, Manifesta 12, Palermo (2018); More Than Just Words [On the Poetic], Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2017); and Turner Prize 2016, Tate Britain, London (2016).