Hurvin Anderson is nominated for the 2017 Turner Prize!

May 16, 2017

British artist Hurvin Anderson is internationally renowned for his vibrant paintings of urban barbershops and lush Caribbean landscapes, drawing on his own Jamaican ancestry and his upbringing in England. This dual identity forms the basis of many of his works – which is something that obviously isn’t lost in a city like Toronto, where duality and complex notions of home and memory are so common in the population.

That’s why the AGO was so proud to show the first major solo exhibition of his work in Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop, which ran from May 19 to August 21 in 2016. It’s also why we are THRILLED to hear that Anderson was nominated for this year’s Turner Prize for his exhibition at the AGO, as well as his exhibition Dub Versions at the New Art Exchange in Nottingham, England. The esteemed prize honours a Britain-based artist for an outstanding showing of their work anywhere in the world in the preceding year. The award winner, who receives a cheque for £25,000, will be announced on December 5, 2017.

If you missed Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop, which Anderson attended for the exhibition’s opening and an artist talk, check out the photos below to see the highlights.