Until March 1, 2026, Ca’ Pesaro – Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna presents “Terry Atkinson. The Artist is a Motor of Meaning”, curated by Elisabetta Barisoni and Elena Forin, in the Sale Dom Pérignon on the museum’s second floor.
The exhibition traces key phases in the career of Terry Atkinson (born 1939, Thurnscoe, England), one of the most influential figures in British conceptual art. Recently recognized by the Tate Gallery in London, Atkinson’s work stands out for its ability to merge complex theoretical reflections with striking visual impact.
In 1968, together with David Bainbridge, Michael Baldwin, and Harold Hurrell, Atkinson co-founded the pioneering group Art & Language, a collective that radically challenged traditional notions of art-making and interpretation. The group’s intellectual rigor and critical stance transformed conceptual art into a field of international debate. However, by 1974, Atkinson distanced himself from the collective, feeling that conceptualism had become self-referential. He returned to a deeply personal artistic voice focused on the individual’s confrontation with history, politics, and representation.
Throughout his long career, Atkinson has explored the intersections of aesthetics, ideology, and human experience, examining how art constructs and deconstructs meaning. His major series — including Enola Gay, Grease Works, The Goya Series, American Civil War, and Russell — reflect his enduring engagement with war, ethics, and the power of images.
Today, Atkinson continues to live and work in the UK, his art remaining a rigorous investigation into the relationship between image, language, and the human condition.
Website: www.visitmuve.it
Location: Ca’ Pesaro Art Gallery, Venice
Schedule: until March 1, 2026
