About

Barnaby Barford is an artist who works with ceramics to create unique narrative pieces. Although an accomplished craftsman, Barford primarily selects found objects, taking both mass-manufactured and antique figurines and turning them into sinister, sardonic but invariably humorous sculptures. As the sentimental figurines become characters in his twisted narratives, Barford turns their perceived vulgarity on its head, often into a different and more explicit vulgarity.

Barnaby Barford (b. 1977) graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2002. He has been the subject of several solo exhibitions in the UK, and has shown in major exhibitions in the US and Japan. In 2004 he was named Young Designer of the Year by Wallpaper magazine.

As well as creating his one-off pieces, Barford has made projection based installations, worked with prestigious companies including Nymphenburg and has designed products for Thorsten Van Elten.

He is currently working on an an animated film. Commissioned by Animate!, an Arts Council and Channel 4-funded scheme that has produced 90 artist-led animated films since 1991, Barford is making a short animated love story played out by ceramic figurines, which will explore high and low culture and question the notions of traditional value within ceramics. The film is due to be shown on Channel 4 in October/November 2008.

© Photograph by Sam Holden.

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