Gilbert & George Biography

After meeting at St Martin’s School of Art, Gilbert & George began creating art together in 1967 using the backdrop of London’s East End as their inspiration. Together they have confronted many of the fundamental issues of existence: sex, religion, corruption, violence, hope, fear, racial tension, patriotism, addiction and death.

The duo believe that an artist’s sacrifice is a necessary condition of art and often appear as figures in their own work as, ‘Living Sculptures’. Their vulnerable and fragile depictions of their own bodies have helped recast the commonly seen depiction of the male nude as a potent figure of masculine strength.

As well as their performance art, they are renowned for their distinctive brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks with the ethos, ‘Art for all’ underpinning their work.