Sculptor Rachel Whiteread is The Subject of Gagosian’s Latest Artist Spotlight

The number of artists who have found themselves creating in new, exciting ways thanks to the pandemic is blessedly profound. Included among those artists is sculptor Rachel Whiteread, who is featured this week in Gagosian’s second season of Artist Spotlight.

For an entire week starting October 21st, 2020, Whiteread will be the focus of Gagosian’s Artist Spotlight. During this time, a new piece by Whiteread will be unveiled by Gagosian which will be available for purchase for only 48 hours.

In conversation with Ann Gallagher, former director of Tate’s collection of British art and editor of the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist’s work, Whiteread discusses everything from the evolution of her early sculptural works to adjusting to creating during lockdown.

“The strangeness of the world really did interfere with my practice… I had to sort of really reinvent things. It was actually quite a nice process, working on a small table in the kitchen and all, collecting things from my domestic life with themes I’ve used before.”

Whiteread and Gallagher also discussed her approach of “patchwork imagery” in her new resin works, which is modeled after the use of studio pinboards for organizing images and information as a “hub” or sorts: “All of these bits of information becomes very relevant in the surface of these sculptures.” The sculptures register traces of the artist’s hand amongst other influences and memories, recording subtleties that perhaps might not translate in other media.

Waxing on the texture and recording of surfaces in the process of the artist’s sculptures, Gallagher inquires on how Whiteread’s new work with resin translate her process, as evolving from her plaster sculptures in the late 80s.

“Always I’ve talked about captivating breath or fossilizing air or surface from the very ephemeral to the hard and distinct. All those aspects culminate and become clear, especially in these works for the show at Gagosian.”

Watch the full video interview between Rachel Whiteread and Ann Gallagher below.

Despite setbacks and restrictions contemporary galleries are experiencing due to COVID-19, Gagosian’s programming for their Artist Spotlight series has evolved to suit the digital nature of our present cultural situation. In addition to the conversation and exclusive artwork release, a conversation between Tom Eccles and Kiki Smith will air on October 27th at 2pm EDT. Register to attend with Gagosian.

The new work by Whiteread will be unveiled on Friday, October 23, at 6am EDT. For updates, please contact the gallery at collecting@gagosian.com.

“As Gagosian’s galleries begin reopening worldwide, we are excited to pursue a new vision for our Artist Spotlight series, which operates independently from our exhibition program. The Intitaitve, which launched in April 2020 in response to gallery closures due to the pandemic crisis, has opened the way to a dynamic new platform for artists to operate imaginatively in the digital realm and share their stories online with our global audience.”