I don't think I ever really decided I was an artist. I went to college to learn how to think and look at art. In the end, I developed a more sophisticated misunderstanding of art.
Gavin Turk's installations and sculptures playfully recontextualize everyday objects, addressing issues of authorship, authenticity, and identity.
"When I was in college I thought of making up a fictive artist and giving him a name and a body of work. Eventually I came around to the idea of using my own name, which had this strange distancing effect, similar to using a found object. Being a Turk was quite interesting because in a sense it was like being a foreigner."
Turk’s installations and sculptures deal with issues of authorship, authenticity and identity. Concerned with the ‘myth’ of the artist and the ‘authorship’ of a work, Turk’s engagement with this modernist, avant-garde debate stretches back to the readymades of Marcel Duchamp.
In 1991, the Royal College of Art refused Turk a degree on the basis that his final show, ‘Cave’, consisted of a whitewashed studio space containing only a blue heritage plaque commemorating his presence...
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Gavin TurkEine Kerze Brennt Noch, 2023oil on canvas80 x 60 x 2.5 cm
31 1/2 x 23 5/8 x 1 in -
Gavin TurkHerbstkerzen, 2023oil on canvas80 x 60 x 2.5 cm
31 1/2 x 23 5/8 x 1 in -
Gavin TurkZwei Kerzen Löschen, 2023oil on canvas80 x 60 x 2.5 cm
31 1/2 x 23 5/8 x 1 in -
Gavin TurkGiraffe, 2021painted bronze18 x 20.5 x 25 cm
7 1/8 x 8 1/8 x 9 7/8 inches -
Gavin TurkHoly Egg (Blue), 2015acrylic on canvas114.5 x 82 cm
45 1/16 x 32 4/16 in -
Gavin TurkBrillo, 2003painted bronze49.3 x 28 x 45.4 cm
19 6/16 x 11 1/16 x 17 13/16 in -
Gavin TurkNomad, 2002painted bronze36 x 165 x 81 cm
14 2/16 x 64 15/16 x 31 14/16 in
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Resistance(s) 3.06 - 2.07.2021 Gallery | BrusselsAfter its success in Knokke, the exhibition Resistance will be presented in our Brussels’ gallery in a new form. While the exhibition in Knokke focused on the black color and...Read more
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Resistance 1 - 30.05.2021 Gallery | Knokke KustlaanA refined selection of paintings and sculptures celebrating the power of an inspiring and highly symbolic colour: BLACK.Read more
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En Œuf
Gavin Turk 14.01 - 14.02.2019 Gallery | BrusselsWe are at an exciting but terrifying moment in history. The pivotal point on the roller coaster where the carriage slows right down - ready to speed up to a...Read more -
Works
Gavin Turk 22.03 - 12.05.2018 Gallery | Paris | FranceMARUANI MERCIER & HADIDA a le plaisir d’annoncer Works, une exposition monographique de Gavin Turk, à l’occasion de l’ouverture de leur nouvelle galerie à Paris, 12 Rue Malher. Depuis ses...Read more -
GAVIN TURK 6.08 - 7.09.2016 Gallery | Knokke KustlaanIn the Presence of the Artist Jablonka Maruani Mercier Gallery is proud to present a selection of Gavin Turk's body of work at its Knokke gallery. Gavin Turk (b.1967) is...Read more
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Gavin Turk: 'In Search of Ariadne' at the Heong Gallery
7.12.2022A new exhibition by artist Gavin Turk opens on 6 October at the Heong Gallery to coincide with the permanent installation of Turk's Ariadne Wrapped,...Read more -
FENIX marks World Refugee Day with unveiling of L’Age d’Or Bronze door by Gavin Turk becomes part of Rotterdam’s sculpture collection
FENIX 20.6.2021Yesterday afternoon, on World Refugee Day, Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam, unveiled L’Age d’Or (2019) by Young British Artist Gavin Turk. L’Age d’Or is an...Read more -
Sculpture International Rotterdam enriched with donation New Work of Art by Gavin Turk
8.6.2021On World Refugee Day, Sunday June 20, Mayor of Rotterdam Aboutaleb will unveil a new work of art in Rotterdam. L’Age d‘Or (2019) by Young...Read more -
Works celebrating the power of an inspiring and highly symbolic colour: Black
Mutual Art 3.6.2021Maruani Mercier presents works celebrating the power of an inspiring and highly symbolic colour: Black KNOKKE .- The perception of colours and its use has...Read more
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Take an armchair tour of London’s Frieze Sculpture Park
The Spaces 9.10.2020Frieze Week might be a muted and mostly digital affair this year, but visitors can still enjoy a socially-distanced stroll through Regent’s Park to see...Read more -
Some of the world’s greatest artists photographed in lockdown by Maryam Eisler
LUX Magazine 12.5.2020Darius Sanai for LUX magazine LUX Contributing Editor and artist Maryam Eisler has been photographing some of the world’s greatest artists over FaceTime and WhatsApp...Read more -
Art Brussels has daring designs for the contemporary art market
Wallpaper* 26.4.2019By Jessica Klingelfuss for Wallpaper* The 37th edition of the Belgian art fair proves it still has bite as a destination for discovering for new...Read more -
Brusselse galerieën bereiden zich voor op de beurs van het jaar
Chapeau TEFAF 19.3.2019Jo Cortenraedt for Chapeau TEFAF Meer dan andere jaren is het aanbod op TEFAF vernieuwd door de inbreng van maar liefst 39 nieuwe galerieën op...Read more
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Gavin Turk recycle les oeuvres de ses congénères
Arts Libre 6.2.2019Claude Lorent for Arts Libre Pour son expo bruxelloise sur le thème de l’oeuf, l’artiste britannique convoque Magritte et Broodthaers. En intitulant son expo “En...Read more -
This Week in Belgium
See You There 22.1.2019Perfectly timed with the egg mania on Instagram (the most liked photo on the image app is now a simple picture of an egg), “En...Read more -
Gavin Turk : portrait du sculpteur en chien de chasse
Revue des Deux Mondes 16.4.2018Bertrand Raison pour Revue des Deux Mondes Au lieu de s’efforcer à tout prix de se faire un nom, c’est-à-dire de faire reconnaître sa signature...Read more -
Les rendez-vous à ne pas manquer cette semaine
AD Magazine 2.4.2018Oscar Duboÿ pour AD Magazine Cette semaine, on rend hommage aux pionnières à la Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier – on dessine l’architecture à travers les...Read more
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Bruxelles- Paris
La Libre 23.3.2018Claude Lorent pour La Libre Habituellement, ce sont les galeries parisiennes qui s’installent à Bruxelles, voici que le mouvement inverse s’amorce puisque la galerie...Read more -
Nouvelle Galerie: Des Belges à Paris
Le Point 22.3.2018Le Point - Tendances Marché de l'Art par Judith Benhamou-Huet La galerie Bruxelloise Maruani Mercier débarque à Paris et s'associe au patron des magazins...Read more -
New Gallery Opening: The Art of Fashion in Link With Contemporary Art
MODEM 21.3.2018Martine and Armand Hadida, co-founders of L'Eclaireur, the multi-brand boutique of fashion designers in Paris, team up with Maruani Mercier, founder of the Belgian homonymus...Read more -
Turkish Tulips: the YBAs turn to gardening in a new exhibition
The Telegraph 28.7.2017It has perhaps rather crept under the radar, but an exhibition that unites historical horticulture with the hottest of contemporary art is about to open...Read more
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Gavin Turk: the analyst will unmask you now
The Guardian 16.11.2016Dorian Leader for The Guardian He has impersonated tramps, punks, Pollock and Che. But who is the real Gavin Turk? As a major...Read more -
Who What When Where How and Why: Gavin Turk questions everything
The Telegraph 10.11.2016Newport Street Gallery will host the first major solo exhibition of work by British artist Gavin Turk since 2002. Spanning almost three decades, ‘Who What...Read more -
L’art cinq étoiles à la Côte belge
La Libre 11.8.2016Reprise de propriété il a réalisé à Knokke la reprise d’une performance de Fontana en 1962, accomplie dans la maison “Vasarely” du collectionneur Louis Bogaert,...Read more -
Sculpture in the City London
1.6.20161 June 2016 - 1 June 2017 Now in its sixth year, the critically acclaimed Sculpture in the City returns to the Square Mile with...Read more
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Art Antwerp 2022
15 - 18.12.2022We are pleased to return to Art Antwerp for its 2nd edition, bringing with us a vibrant selection of works by Cornelius Annor, Ross Bleckner,...Read more -
TEFAF Maastricht 2022
25 - 30.06.2022Established in 1988, The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent organization for fine art, antiques, and design. TEFAF runs...Read more -
Art Paris 2022
6 - 10.04.2022PRIVATE OPENING Wednesday 6 April 2022, 11 am – 9 pm COLLECTORS PRE-OPENING From Thursday 7 April to Sunday 10 April 2022 , from 10...Read more -
Art Brussels Week 2021
3 - 6.06.2021For the Art Brussels WEEK, galleries will be open from Thursday 3 June through Sunday 6 June from 11am to 6pm. Our gallery is excited...Read more -
Frieze Sculpture
5 - 18.10.2020The English Gardens will once again transform into a museum without walls, making an unparalleled quality of work accessible to all. We are proud to...Read more -
Tefaf Maastricht 2020
7 - 15.03.2020Established in 1988, TEFAF is widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent fair of art and antiques. TEFAF champions the finest quality art from across the...Read more -
ARCO Madrid 2020
20.02 - 1.03.2020ARCOmadrid is the international meeting point for exchange between Europe and Latin America. The fair enjoys the distinction of having been the first fair in...Read more -
Art Brussels 2019
25 - 28.04.2019Though it retains its youthful profile as a discovery fair, Art Brussels is one of Europe’s oldest and most established fairs, running for its 51st...Read more -
TEFAF Maastricht 2019
16 - 24.03.2019Established in 1988, TEFAF is widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent fair of art and antiques. TEFAF champions the finest quality art from across the...Read more -
ARCO Madrid 2019
27.02 - 3.03.2019ARCOmadrid is the international meeting point for exchange between Europe and Latin America. The fair enjoys the distinction of having been the first fair in...Read more -
BRAFA 2019
26.01 - 3.02.2019The Brafa Art Fair, created in 1956, is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious art fairs, famous for the high quality fine art,...Read more -
Masterpiece London 2018
28.06 - 4.07.2018Masterpiece London is the unmissable art fair at which visitors can view and buy the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewellery - from...Read more -
Art Brussels 2018
19 - 22.04.2018Though it retains its youthful profile as a discovery fair, Art Brussels is one of Europe’s oldest and most established fairs, celebrating in April 2018...Read more -
ARCO Madrid 2018
21 - 25.02.2018ARCOmadrid is the international meeting point for exchange between Europe and Latin America. The fair enjoys the distinction of having been the first fair in...Read more -
BRAFA 2018
27.01 - 4.02.2018The Brafa Art Fair, created in 1956, is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious art fairs, famous for the high quality fine art,...Read more -
EXPO Chicago 2017
Ron Gorchov 13 - 17.09.2017We are delighted to participate for the second consecutive year in EXPO Chicago! This year, you can find us both at Booth 120 and at...Read more -
Art Brussels 2017
21 - 23.04.2017 -
TEFAF Maastricht 2017
10 - 19.03.2017 -
ARCO Madrid 2017
23 - 25.02.2017 -
Artgenève 2017
26 - 29.01.2017 -
BRAFA 2017
21 - 29.01.2017