To celebrate Veronica Ryan’s Spike Island exhibition ‘Along a Spectrum’ (19 May to 5 September 2021), the artist was joined in conversation by one of Britain’s most influential sculptors, Phyllida Barlow. The discussion was chaired by Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern and introduced by Spike Island curator Carmen Juliá.

Phyllida Barlow

For more than 50 years, Phyllida Barlow has taken inspiration from her surroundings to create imposing installations that can be at once menacing and playful. The audience is challenged into a new relationship with the sculptural object, the gallery environment and the world beyond. Born in 1944 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Barlow graduated at the Slade School of Fine Art in 1966, she now lives and works in London. Barlow’s work has been exhibited extensively across institutions internationally. In 2017, she represented Britain at the Venice Biennale. A major solo exhibition of her work is currently on view at Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany.

Veronica Ryan

Veronica Ryan is an artist who divides her time between the UK and New York. She is best known for her sculptural works which are made from materials including plaster, lead, bronze, textiles, and found objects and often incorporate organic forms such as large seed pods and fruit. She has exhibited widely in the UK and overseas.

Frances Morris

Frances Morris has been Director of Tate Modern since 2016. Curator, writer and broadcaster, Frances joined Tate in 1987 becoming Head of Displays at Tate Modern in 2000 and Director of Collections, International Art from 2006. Alongside many exhibition projects and publications, including acclaimed retrospectives of Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama and Agnes Martin, Frances has led the transformation of Tate’s International Collection, strategically broadening and diversifying its international reach and representation, developing the collecting of live art and performance and pioneering new forms of museum display