Barnaby Barford's Twisted Trafalgar Square

Irreverent UK sculptor Barnaby Barford has just completed his largest piece to date. An installation comprised of 22 individual pieces, the work reflects his view of the corruption of London's Trafalgar Square.



Impish and sweet characters engage in vandalism, littering, violence, self-abuse and more in this sculptured narrative. Babies booze it up, little girls shoot rats for fun and muggings run rampant in this miniature world. Brandishing everything from alcohol to guns, the ceramic and enamel-painted subjects, who resemble Hummel figurines gone bad, are placed atop round slabs of concrete (this is the first time Barford has used concrete in his work).















As described on the artist's site:

Trafalgar Square has been described as the blank slab upon which Britain has inscribed it's modern history, in Barford's version Drink, Violence, Consumerism, Junk food, Protest and Terrorism all inhabit this world.

In the piece's centre is a Lion looking a great deal sadder than the ones in the real Trafalgar Square - It has been covered in graffiti. The piece is formalised by 4 columns with cherubs on top, each covered in pigeons and bird shit. The rest of the piece comprises of 22 individual pieces, each a vignette of contemporary life. The saccharine figurines have been transformed from chocolate box, romantic images of life into a new, jarring narrative. Added tension is given to the piece in the form of a loan sports bag, entitled unattended luggage. This is the first time Barford has attempted such a big scene and introduces concrete into his aesthetic.

The individual pieces (click on each to enlarge):














views of the overall installation:



Barnaby Barford's Battle Of Trafalgar Square is on view at the OA Gallery from 28th April - 30th June 2010


above: The Battle Of Trafalger Square, 2010, at the OA Gallery in Madrid

OA Gallery
Justiniano 8
28004 Madrid

Barnaby Barford

UK Artist Barnaby Barford's Sick & Twisted Ceramics

Above: Mary Had A Little Lamb

Barnaby Barford is an artist whose produced works you've probably seen on blogs, in design magazines and in the hippest of stores. But as an artist, his ceramic work may not be as familiar to you.

He creates unique narrative pieces using primarily found objects (both mass-manufactured and antique figurines) and turns them into sinister, sardonic and humorous sculptures. Well-known sentimental figurines from companies like Disney, for example, become characters in his twisted narratives, taking on an explicitly vulgar appearance that express some fundamental truths.

Here are a few of his one-off pieces from the collection he calls Private Lives:


Above: She Needs More Than A Makeover


Above: Imposter!


Above: Dear lord, for what we are about to receive make us truely (sic) thankful


Above: French Kiss


Above: J'adore Le Coq D'or


Above: Stick That On You Tube!


Above: That Wasn't In The Script!

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.

You may already be familiar with some of these:

Above: Stamp Cups designed with Valeria Miglioli for Thorsten Van Elten.

Above: Solitaire Olive Bowl, O's and X's Ashtray, Battleships Napkins designed with André Klauser for Thorsten Van Elten.



Above: Limited edition set of Global Service (World Plates) in blue or pink, designed for Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, Münich.

About Barnaby Barford:

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

His most recent exhibit:

From June 24 to October 15, 2008 the Fondation d’entreprise Bernardaud is hosting an exhibition entitled Petits bouleversements au centre de la table (Minor revolutions at the center of the table).

Barnaby Barford