Portrait by Carolina Cabral and Carlos Becerra
Yto Barrada (Moroccan, French, b.1971, Paris) studied history and political science at the Sorbonne, Paris, before training in photography in New York.
Her body of work – which consists of a variety of media including photography, film, sculpture, and installation – was introduced for the first time in the group exhibition Impressions d’Afrique du Nord at the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris (1998), in which she presented photographs of subjects taken in Israel and Morocco.
The genesis of Yto’s practice was a return to her hometown of Tangier, Morocco.
Her first series of photographs, A Life Full of Holes (1998–2004), considers how the Strait of Gibraltar impacts Tangier residents as a border between North Africa and Europe.
In 2006, Yto and a group of fellow artists pioneered a non-profit which culminated in Cinémathèque de Tanger – a cultural hub offering screenings of contemporary and classic films from over twenty countries, as well as workshops, masterclasses, a café, and an archive.
In her individual artistic practice, Yto focuses on postcolonial and socio-political concerns, with the themes of borders, immigration, and tourism featuring prominently in her work.
Yto’s work has been exhibited at Tate Modern (London), MoMA (New York), The Renaissance Society (Chicago), Witte de With (Rotterdam), Haus der Kunst (Munich), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Whitechapel Gallery (London), and the 2007 and 2011 Venice Biennale, among others.
Yto is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year 2011, the 2013-2014 Robert Gardner Fellowship in Photography (Peabody Museum at Harvard University) and the 2015 Abraaj Prize.
She is represented by Pace Gallery (London), Sfeir-Semler Gallery (Beirut-Hamburg), and Galerie Polaris (Paris).
Our new core display references the local textile history, situating it within a framework of contemporary art and photography. Photography Heroines, whose oeuvres explore photography and fibre arts include......
A round-up of five brilliant exhibitions to keep an eye on during April 2024, featuring work by leading women in photography....
Bad Color Combos presents a selection of Yto's work exploring education, the passage of time, and futile attempts to control nature....
Our overview of Heroine highlights from the 53rd iteration of the iconic Rencontres d'Arles....
Contemporary Heroine Yto Barrada exhibits in group exhibition at Pace Gallery, London on view until March 12, 2022...
Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message. Thank you!
