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Alice Neel: A Human Comedy

Curatorial tour with Eleanor Nairne

,Gallery
painting by Alice Neel: Cindy Nemser and Chuck, 1975, Oil on canvas.

Neel explained in her artist statement of 1960: ‘I decided to paint a human comedy.’ For this special evening, curator Eleanor Nairne speaks about a few of her favourite paintings from the exhibition.

Alice Neel could be fantastically funny and she learned how to put her sitters at ease by lulling them with stories from her rich life. Sharing more about how Neel met these sitters, Nairne will explore how they collaborated in her makeshift studio on the painting of them.

Eleanor Nairne has been a curator at the Barbican since 2015, curating exhibitions including Basquiat: Boom for Real (2017), Lee Krasner: Living Colour (2019), Jean Dubuffet: Brutal Beauty (2021) and Soheila Sokhanvari: Rebel Rebel (2022). She is currently working with Julianknxx on a new commission for the Barbican’s Curve which will open this September. She is also a writer for publications including The Art Newspaper, the London Review of Books and the New York Times.

Tagged with: Art & design Alice Neel Talks & events

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Location
The Art Gallery is located on Level 3 and can be accessed by stairs and lifts from Level G or via the Sculpture Court if coming from outside. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.