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Unravel

The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art

— ,Art Gallery
Teresa Margolles, american Juju for the Tapestry of Truth, 2015 © Courtesy the artist and Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich/ Paris

Using textiles, fibre and thread, 50 international artists challenge power structures and reimagine the world in this major group exhibition.

Textiles cover and protect us, engage our senses, trigger our memories, represent our beliefs, hold our stories. We are wrapped in cloth when we’re born and enshrouded in it when we die.

As an artistic medium, textiles can speak to the joys and pains of being human, as well as the larger structures and systems that shape our world.

In this major group exhibition, 50 international, intergenerational artists use textiles to communicate vital ideas about power, resistance and survival. From intimate hand-crafted pieces to monumental sculptural installations, these works offer narratives of violence, imperialism and exclusion alongside stories of resilience, love and hope.

Book your tickets by Mon 12 Feb to save £5 off your exhibition ticket.

Tagged with: Art & design

This exhibition is co-curated by the Barbican, London and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam where the exhibition will be on show from September 2024.

Ticket prices

From 30 Nov 2023 - 12 Feb 2024, ticket prices are as follows:

  • Standard: £13
  • Concessions (Universal Credit, Students and Over-65s): £9.50
  • Art Fund: £9
  • Young Barbican: £5
  • Under 14s: Free
  • Members: Free

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Free entry + guest

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To book members tickets, first log in to your account and then when booking select 'standard tickets'. Your discount will apply on the confirmation page. 

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Our PWYC visits take place every Thursday from 5 – 8pm (last entry is 7pm).

Select the price you can pay and anjoy the exhibition. If you're able to pay £18, you'll be helping to support our Visual Arts programme.

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£9

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£5

Age 14–25? Join Young Barbican for free

Subject to availability

Universal Credit: £13

Students: £13

Over-65s: £13

Art Fund Members: £8

Under 14s: Free

Discounts are subject to availability. They cannot be combined to make greater savings.

In purchasing concession tickets, you agree that they will only be used by a person with those needs. Please bring proof of discount status where possible.

*Excludes £1.50 booking fee

Participating artists

Pacita Abad (The Philippines), Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland), Igshaan Adams (South Africa), Ghada Amer (Egypt/France), Arpilleristas (Chile), Mercedes Azpilicueta (Argentina), Yto Barrada (Morocco), Kevin Beasley (USA), Sanford Biggers (USA), Louise Bourgeois (France / USA), Diedrick Brackens (USA), Jagoda Buić (Croatia), Margarita Cabrera (Mexico / USA), Feliciano Centurión (Paraguay), Judy Chicago (USA), Myrlande Constant (Haiti), Cian Dayrit (The Philippines), Tracey Emin (UK), Jeffrey Gibson (USA), Antonio Jose Guzman and Iva Jankovic (The Netherlands / Panama and The Netherlands / Yugoslavia), Harmony Hammond (USA),  Sheila Hicks (USA), Nicholas Hlobo (South Africa), Yee I-Lann (Malaysia), Kimsooja (South Korea), Acaye Kerunen (Uganda), José Leonilson (Brazil), Tau Lewis (Canada), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Teresa Margolles (Mexico), Georgina Maxim (Zimbabwe), Małgorzata Mirga-Tas (Poland), Mrinalini Mukherjee (India), Violeta Parra (Chile), Solange Pessoa (Brazil), Loretta Pettway (Gee’s Bend) (USA), Antonio Pichillá (Guatemala), Faith Ringgold (USA), LJ Roberts (USA), Zamthingla Ruivah (India), Hannah Ryggen (Norway), Tschabalala Self (USA), Yinka Shonibare CBE RA (UK), Mounira Al Solh (Lebanon), Angela Su (Hong Kong), Lenore Tawney (USA), T. Vinoja (Sri Lanka), Cecilia Vicuña (Chile), Billie Zangewa (Malawi / South Africa), and Sarah Zapata (Peru / USA).

Pay What You Can

Every Thursday from 5 – 8pm, entry to Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art is priced Pay What You Can.

Simply pick the price you can pay and enjoy the exhibition. If you're able to pay £16, you'll be helping to support our Visual Arts programme at the Barbican.

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