Turner Prize Winner Veronica Ryan at Wexner Center for the Arts

Beginning August 22, 2025, the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University in Columbus will present “Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects.” Co-organized by the Wexner Center and the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, the first comprehensive solo exhibition of the Turner Prize-winning artist will be on view at the multidisciplinary arts space through January 11, 2026.

“Unruly Objects” features more than 100 works made over four decades by the British artist, known for her singular ability to convert the most common materials into revelatory art. It is curated by Tamara H. Schenkenberg, curator, with Molly Moog, curatorial assistant, Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The exhibition travels to the Wex following its current presentation at the Pulitzer, which continues through July 27, 2025.

Among the sculptures, textiles, and works on paper are pieces made of traditional materials including bronze and marble, as well as others sourced from everyday items such as seeds, pods, orange peels, bandages, and plastic bottles. Ryan’s combination of organic materials and mass-produced items gives each of these a new life, while suggesting concerns about excess and consumption.

Though rooted in her academic training in London in the 1970s and 80s, Ryan’s artmaking has expanded to include traditional fiber crafts learned from her mother, which the artist regards as part of an intergenerational artistic legacy.

The remarkable evolution of Ryan’s practice, as well as the recurring themes and motifs within it, are reflected in such works as the bulbous plaster floor sculpture Territorial (1986); monumental lead pieces including the multipart work Cavities (1988); a number of mixed media sculptures reflecting Ryan’s study of West African art; a selection of sculptures made from pillows, referencing dreaming and memories of her mother; and an installation of crocheted sacks and organic materials that alludes to growth and potential.

Related Events

An Exhibitions Opening Celebration will take place Friday, August 22, 5–9 PM.

A Wex Open House happening Sunday, August 25 from 4 to 7 PM will welcome students back to campus with activities including artmaking and gallery experiences with educators.