Hew Locke: Passages at Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art presents Hew Locke: Passages, an exhibition tracing more than three decades of work by Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke. Known for his layered, richly textured approach described as a “postcolonial baroque,” Locke employs sculpture, photography, drawing, and found objects to challenge and reimagine the visual codes of imperialism.

On view from Thursday, October 2, 2025, through Sunday, January 11, 2026, in the second-floor galleries, the exhibition spans Locke’s career from the late 1990s to today. It highlights recurring themes such as portraiture, public statuary, ships, boats, and architecture, while exploring the lasting effects of colonialism and the legacies of global capitalism, migration, and diaspora.

Locke, born in Edinburgh in 1959 and raised in Guyana before returning to Britain in 1980, draws from both his British and Guyanese heritage to create works that fuse vernacular and formal traditions. His practice reflects a dynamic engagement with history and contemporary society through innovative use of material and form.

Admission to the exhibition is free. The Yale Center for British Art is located at 1080 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510.