Zak Ové b. 1966
Overview
Zak Ové is a multi-disciplinary artist working in film, sculpture and photography to reclaim old world mythologies in new world source materials and technologies. His fascination with the interplay between antiquity and the future is inspired by masking rituals and traditions of Trinidadian carnival that is itself rooted in a struggle for emancipation. Ové’s work is in celebration of the power of play, the juxtaposition of parody and sacred ritual and the blurring of edges between reality and fantasy, flesh and spirit. His use of non-traditional materials: copper, wood, Victoriana and other found materials, situates the work in the metropoles of Europe and the Americas where they merge and mutate into endless possibilities and unexpected identities.
Works
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Attilah, 2005 -
Nubian Return, 2009
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Time Thief, 2010
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Inheritance, 2011-2012
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Time Tunnel, 2013
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Lajablesse, 2013
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The Upsetters: King and Queen, 2013
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Hairy Man, 2013
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Moko Jumbies, 2015
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DP8, 2016
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DP13, 2016
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Black and Blue: The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness, 2016
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DP23, 2016
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The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness, 2016
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Autonomous Morris, 2018
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The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness, 2018
News
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ZAK OVÉ
Navigating Worlds an Ocean Apart, Through Art. Four artists featured in a major London exhibition about Britain and the Caribbean reflect on identity, the art world and living through changing times. – The New York Times – Desiree Ibekwe 7 January 2022LINK TO ARTICLE Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s - Now Tate Britain 1 December 2021 – 3 April 2022 LINK TO EXHIBITION LONDON —...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
As interest in artists of Caribbean heritage grows, Tate Britain show aims to create 'landmark' moment – The Art Newspaper – Anna Brady 30 November 2021LINK TO ARTICLE Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s - Now Tate Britain 1 December 2021 – 3 April 2022 LINK TO EXHIBITION This month,...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – LAKWENA MACIVER – ZAK OVÉ
This immersive exhibition traces the legacy of Black British creativity. Visionary curator Aindrea Emelife has taken over Christie's with the most thrilling Black British artworks of the last four decades – Dazed – Emily Dinsdale 30 September 2021LINK TO ARTICLE Black Bold British. Curated by Aindrea Emelife Christies 1 – 22 October 2021 LINK TO EXHIBITION “I like to see my curatorial...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – LAKWENA MACIVER – ZAK OVÉ
It's About Black Art Not Being a Sellable Fad: How One Curator Is Navigating the Market for a Show of Black British Art at Christie's London – ArtNet – Naomi Rea 15 September 2021LINK TO ARTICLE Bold Black British Christies 1 – 22 October 2021 EVENT DETAILS Christie’s will hold an exhibition of Black British art at its...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Sculptor Zak Ové creates monumental Afrofuturistic rocket ship, but it has nowhere to land – The Art Newspaper – Louisa Buck 23 March 2021LINK TO ARTICLE When it comes to sculpture, Zak Ové doesn’t hold back. His two giant carnivalesque moko jumbie stilt-walkers currently preside over the British...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
UK galleries have embraced black artists, says exhibition curator. Zak Ové of Get Up, Stand Up Now show feels cultural scene has never been more accepting – The Guardian – Lanre Bakare 11 June 2019LINK TO ARTICLE Britain’s cultural institutions are more open than ever before to black British culture and the artists behind it, according to the curator...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Get Up, Stand Up Now: Black British art's response to the Windrush scandal – The Guardian – Colin Grant 2 June 2019LINK TO ARTICLE Get Up Stand Up Now Somerset House, West Wing Strand, London WC2R 1LA 12 June – 15 September 2019 LINK TO EXHIBITION...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
The outdoor art installations not to miss in 2018 – Wallpaper* 13 November 2018READ MORE Autonomous Morris Smithson Plaza, London In collaboration with Tishman Speyer, Vigo Gallery and Encounter Contemporary Smithson Plaza, 25, 26 & 27 St. James's...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
A Landmark Achievement for a Painting by a Woman, Upstaged by a Man – The New York Times – Scott Reyburn 16 October 2018READ MORE LONDON — She should have been the center of attention, but somehow everyone got distracted. The nude self-portrait “Propped,” by Jenny Saville, was...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – ZAK OVÉ
"African Art Is Here to Stay": Collectors Were in a Buying Mood at the London Edition of the 1-54 Fair – ArtNet – Naomi Rea 8 October 2018READ MORE Meditation Tree 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Courtyard Somerset House. Strand, London WC2R 1LA 3 – 7 October 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION ‘African...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
What's not to love? Ratty as San Francisco is, there's no denying the magic – San Francisco Chronicle – Heather Knight 20 July 2018READ MORE The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness San Francisco Civic Centre 28 June – 7 November 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION Walking through...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
JOURNEY INTO A NEW DIMENSION – Art Africa – Amy Gibbings 5 July 2018LINK TO ARTICLE Star Liner Lawrie Shabibi Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue Al-Quoz 1, Dubai, UAE 19 March – 7 May 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION Irish-Trinidadian...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
CHARLES DESMARAIS' ART PICK. – San Francisco Chronicle – Charles Desmarais 5 July 2018LINK TO ARTICLE The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness San Francisco Civic Centre 28 June – 7 November 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION ART...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
New Sculpture Exhibit at San Francisco Civic Center Turning Heads – NBC BAY AREA – Joe Rosato Jr. 3 July 2018LINK TO ARTICLE The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness San Francisco Civic Centre 28 June – 7 November 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION The...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Mythic Carnival: British-Caribbean Artist Zak Ové's Multimedia Artworks Requite A Lost African Culture. – Harpers Bazaar – Rebecca Anne Proctor 18 June 2018DOWNLOAD ARTICLE Star Liner Lawrie Shabibi Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue Al-Quoz 1, Dubai, UAE 19 March – 7 May 2018 LINK TO EXHIBITION The artist's...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
DOORS OPEN: ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION 2017 – BBC Arts 14 June 2017READ MORE 14 June – 20 August 2017 This week the Royal Academy opened its doors for its annual celebration of art and eccentricity in...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Art gone wild. The best places to see sculptures outdoors - Yorkshire Sculpture Park – CNN 31 May 2017Some of the most popular outdoor works of the last few decades -- James Turrell's famous Skyspaces, Robert Smithson's 'Spiral Jetty,' Antony Gormley's standing figures,...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
BRITISH MUSEUM PERMANENTLY INSTALLS FIRST CARIBBEAN ART COMMISSION. Zak Ové's Moko Jumbie sculptures now stand in the Africa Galleries – The Art Newspaper – Anny Shaw 31 March 2017READ MORE Moko Jumbies British Museum Africa Galleries, Room 25 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG 28 March 2017 – 28 March 2018 LINK...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Tackling slavery through Caribbean sculpture – Channel 4 News – John Snow 30 March 2017VIEW INTERVIEW HERE Moko Jumbies British Museum Africa Galleries, Room 25 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG 28 March 2017 – 28 March 2018...Read more -
KADAR BROCK – IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – ZAK OVÉ
How to Spend It. A dynamic contemporary art platform for emerging talents – Financial Times – Francesca Gavin 31 December 2016LINK TO ARTICLE Hussam Otaibi describes his love of art as one of the most formative relationships of his life. But growing up in Saudi...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Okay Africa – Mike Stevels 13 December 2016READ MORE The traditional African mask is a global fascination; one often misunderstood and misrepresented, but full of undeniable attraction. The history, culture, craftsmanship, and...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Our 5 Favorite Highlights of 1:54 Contemporary African Fair London 2016 – Okay Africa – Akinyi Ochieng 9 October 2016LINK TO ARTICLE The Invisible Man and The Masque of Blackness 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London Courtyard Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R 1LA...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Weekend Collecting. People Want to Look Back – Financial Times – Melanie Gerlis 8 October 2016The Invisible Man and The Masque of Blackness 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London Courtyard Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R 1LA 6 – 9...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – ZAK OVÉ
1:54 AFRICAN ART FAIR FINALLY GETS THE STAGE IT DESERVES DURING FRIEZE WEEK – Artnet News – Naomi Rea 8 October 2016READ MORE After too long neglecting the electrifying art scene across Africa, there has been a recent upsurge of international interest in the contemporary African...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
ON GUARD – The Times 5 October 2016The Invisible Man and The Masque of Blackness 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London Courtyard Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R 1LA 6 – 9...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
40 MALE NUDES AND A TRIBUTE TO MALICK SIDIBÉ ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S 1:54 LONDON – Artsy – Antwaun Sargent 5 October 2016READ MORE The Invisible Man and The Masque of Blackness 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London Courtyard Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R 1LA 6...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
FEATURED IN NEWARK MUSEUM 29 January 2016Arts of Global Africa Galleries Newark Museum EVENT DETAILS The Newark Museum is preparing for the 2017 reinstallation of the arts of Global Africa collection...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
Moko Jumbies take over London – The Guardian – Joshua Surtees 10 September 2015READ MORE Moko Jumbies. Celebrating Africa The British Museum, London Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG 28 July – 13 September 2015 LINK TO EXHIBITION...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
THE BRITISH MUSEUM BOLSTERS ITS COLLECTION WITH FIRST CARIBBEAN ART COMMISSION BY ZAK OVÉ – The Art Newspaper 27 July 2015READ MORE Moko Jumbies British Museum Africa Galleries, Room 25 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG 28 March 2017 – 28 March 2018 LINK...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – ZAK OVÉ
Nigerian artists in the spotlight – The Art Newspaper – Anny Shaw 14 July 2015As Nigeria surges ahead of South Africa to become the largest African economy, its newly rich are buying art. Last year the Nigerian art market...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
1 June 2015All of Us Have a Sense of Rhythm David Roberts Art Foundation Symes Mews, London NW1 7JE Artists include: Larry Achiampong, Younes Baba-Ali, Julien Bayle,...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
SHOWING IN PARIS 31 October 2011Masquerades and Carnivals Dapper Museum ParisRead more
Exhibitions
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ZAK OVÉ: LIFE BETWEEN ISLANDS: CARIBBEAN-BRITISH ART 1950S-NOW
Tate Britain, London 1 December 2021 - 3 April 2022Opening at Tate Britain in December, Life Between Islands will be a landmark exhibition exploring the extraordinary breadth of Caribbean-British art over four generations. It will be the first time...Read more -
IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI – LAKWENA MACIVER – ZAK OVÉ
BLACK BOLD BRITISH. CURATED BY AINDREA EMELIFE – Christie's, London 1 - 22 October 2021Christies LINK TO VIRTUAL TOUR Vigo is delighted to participate in Bold Black British in partnership with the curator Aindrea Emelife and Christies. Taking place from 1 to 21 October,...Read more -
SALAH ELMUR – ZAK OVÉ
THE ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION 2021 22 September 2021 - 2 January 2022The Royal Academy Curated by Yinka Shonibare RA Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BDRead more -
ZAK OVÉ: AUTONOMOUS MORRIS
The Design Museum, London 24 June - 30 September 2021Standing at approximately 3-metres high, Autonomous Morris is a monumental sculpture made from deconstructed and collaged vintage car parts, welded together to produce a futuristic yet retro, cross-cultural totemic mask....Read more -
ZAK OVÉ: AUTONOMOUS MORRIS
Smithson Plaza, London 5 October 2019 - 15 February 2020Smithson Plaza, London In collaboration with Tishman Speyer, Vigo Gallery and Encounter Contemporary Smithson Plaza, 25, 26 & 27 St. James's Street, London SW1A 1HJ International real estate developer, Tishman...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ: THE INVISIBLE MAN AND THE MASQUE OF BLACKNESS
New Art Centre, Salisbury 15 September 2018 - 15 March 2019New Art Centre Salisbury SP5 1BGRead more -
ZAK OVÉ
THE INVISIBLE MAN AND THE MASQUE OF BLACKNESS – San Francisco Civic Centre 28 June - 7 November 2018San Francisco Civic CentreRead more -
LEONARDO DREW – HASSAN HAJJAJ – ZAK OVÉ
TALISMAN IN THE AGE OF DIFFERENCE – Stephen Friedman, London 5 June - 21 July 2018Stephen Friedman 25-28 Old Burlington St, Mayfair, London W1S 3AN DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Larry Achiampong (British / Ghanaian) Derrick Adams (American) Ghada Amer (Egyptian) Benny Andrews (American) Michael Armitage (British...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
ECO-VISIONARIES: ART AND ARCHITECTURE AFTER THE ANTHROPOCENE – Vigo Gallery, London 11 April - 8 October 2018Vigo Gallery In MAAT’s first collaboration with several European museums, the Eco-Visionaries: Art and Architecture after the Anthropocene project is centred on current practices that propose critical and creative visions...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
STAR LINER – Lawrie Shabibi, Dubai 19 March - 17 May 2018Lawrie Shabibi Unit 21, Alserkal Avenue Al-Quoz 1, Dubai, UAE DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Lawrie Shabibi is delighted to announce Star Liner , a major new show by British-Trinidadian artist Zak...Read more -
DANIEL CREWS-CHUBB – ZAK OVÉ – CAROLINE ACHAINTRE – BEN ENWONWU – CHE LOVELACE
PLAYING MAS – Vigo Gallery, London 21 June - 21 July 2017Vigo Gallery Playing Mas brings together the work of four contemporary artists who have a shared interest in the potency and power of carnival and masquerade to engender creativity and...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
THE INVISIBLE MAN AND THE MASQUE OF BLACKNESS – Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield 8 April 2017 - 4 June 2018Yorkshire Sculpture Park Lower Park West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4JX This spring, Yorkshire Sculpture Park welcome an extraordinary assembly of 80 sculptures by British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové. Black and Blue:...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
MOKO JUMBIES – The British Museum, London 28 March 2017 - 28 March 2018British Museum Africa Galleries, Room 25 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG The Moko Jumbies were installed on the 30th March in the Africa Galleries, to view Zak Ové...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
MOKO JUMBIES. CELEBRATING AFRICA – The British Museum, London 28 July - 13 September 2015The British Museum, London Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG As part of Celebrating Africa at the British Museum the UK-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové has created two Moko Jumbie sculptures...Read more -
ZAK OVÉ: SPEAKER
27 November - 10 January 2013 Vigo Gallery, Mason's YardVigo Gallery Vigo presents Zak Ové’s first solo show with the gallery following on from his recent participation in Glasstress at the Venice Biennale. Ové works between sculpture, film, painting...Read more -
HASSAN HAJJAJ – ZAK OVÉ
CHAOS INTO CLARITY: RE-POSSESSING A FUNKTIONING UTOPIA. CURATED BY SHANNON AYERS HOLDEN – Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah 26 October 2013 - 26 January 2014Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Building F, SAF Art Spaces, Al Mureijah, Sharjah Heritage Area DOWNLOAD Chaos into Clarity: Re-Possessing a Funktioning Utopia is an investigation of the Aesthetic of Funk....Read more -
ZAK OVÉ
GLASSTRESS. WHITE LIGHT / WHITE HEAT – Berengo Centre for Contemporary Art and Glass, Venice 1 June - 24 November 2013Berengo Centre for Contemporary Art and Glass Campiello della Pescheria, Murano-Venezia DOWNLOAD Curated by James Putnam and Adirano Berengo. Produced in collaboration between Berengo Studio (Venice), Venice Projects (Venice), London...Read more -
ULULATION
BOYLE FAMILY – KADAR BROCK – BIGGS & COLLINGS – LEONARDO DREW – MARCUS HARVEY – HENRY KROKATSIS – AYAN FARAH – JASON MARTIN – Vigo Gallery, London 8 October - 9 November 2012 Vigo Gallery, Mason's YardVigo GalleryRead more -
LONDON TWELVE
MATTHEW BURROWS – BIGGS & COLLINGS – HEYWOOD & CONDIE – HASSAN HAJJAJ – MARCUS HARVEY – HENRY KROKATSIS – OLIVER MARSDE – City Gallery of Prague 29 June - 23 September 2012City Gallery of Prague The Stone Bell, Old Town Square, Prague EXHIBITION CATALOGUE Curated by Toby Clarke Participating artists: Jonathan Baldock, Matthew Burrows, Biggs & Collings, James Capper, Cedric Christie,...Read more -
BRITISH. AN EXPLORATION OF BRITAIN'S CULTURAL IDENTITY
HEYWOOD & CONDIE – MARCUS HARVEY – HENRY KROKATSIS – PENNY LAMB – ZAK OVÉ – KEITH COVENTRY – HEW LOCKE – NEAL TAIT – Vigo Gallery, London 17 April - 11 May 2012Vigo Gallery The exhibition explores cultural identity in the context of contemporary Britain. What does it mean in the 21st century to be British? Who can and can't consider themselves...Read more
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