The South London Gallery (SLG) is set to host a major solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Yto Barrada, titled “Thrill, Fill and Spill.” Running from September 26, 2025, to January 11, 2026, the exhibition showcases Barrada’s unique multidisciplinary practice, which delves into micro-histories, borderlands, and acts of resistance.
According to a statement, the exhibition will feature a mix of new and previous works spanning textile, film, sculpture and painting.
Barrada, who has been selected to represent France at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, is known for her insightful exploration of cultural and political themes. The new show at the SLG will feature several works that highlight her diverse creative approach.
Among the new pieces are a series of textiles, some of which were dyed at The Mothership, Barrada’s artist-led natural dye centre and residency in Tangier, Morocco. This eco-campus provides a creative space for artists, gardeners and others to study and collaborate, reflecting the artist’s commitment to community and sustainable practice.
A highlight of the exhibition is Tangier Island Wall (2019), a sculpture being shown for the first time in the UK. Crafted from crab traps, the work is a poignant reference to Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, a community whose livelihood is threatened by rising sea levels due to the climate crisis. Barrada’s porous “sea wall” serves as a powerful metaphor for the inhabitants’ desire for protection, describing their wish for a seawall as a “beau geste”—a noble act that is ultimately futile against the forces of nature.
Further expanding on themes of perimeters and defensive structures is the series Acrobatic Formations, which features 14 model sculptures. These models draw from the long tradition of human pyramids in Morocco. Originally a tactical method for warriors to scale enemy fortifications, the formation evolved into a spiritual practice before being adapted for circus performances for Western audiences in the nineteenth century.
The exhibition will also include Tintin in Palestine, a new textile work. This piece is based on the varying versions of Hergé’s famous comic strip, which was first published in 1940 and later redrawn a decade later. Both versions were set during the British Mandate of Palestine. Barrada’s work transforms these images into geometric grids using Emily Noyes Vanderpoel’s 1902 colour-analysis system, hand-dyed onto silk.
Thrill, Fill and Spill offers a comprehensive look at an artist who consistently challenges perceptions of history and borders through a rich tapestry of art forms. The exhibition is supported by several organizations, including Pace Gallery and Cockayne Grants for the Arts, and is free to the public.
•Featured image: Yto Barrada, Untitled (Sunrise/Highway X), 2025. Photo: Annik Wetter, Courtesy the Artist. © Yto Barrada, Courtesy Pace Gallery; Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Hamburg, Beirut; and Galerie Polaris, Paris
