Ro Robertson

Ro Robertson

Ro Robertson

RO ROBERTSON (they/them) (b. Sunderland 1984) is a contemporary artist based in West Cornwall. Robertson’s practice spans sculpture, drawing, painting and video, mediums through which they explore the boundaries of the human body and its environment.

Robertson works site specifically, often outdoors, with a multi-sensory focus on the body in the landscape. Unity between the material of the natural landscape and the body reclaims a space for LGBTQ+ identity against a history of being deemed ‘against nature’. Physical explorations of the natural landscape feed into ‘automatic’ abstract drawings and short mediative video works. Robertson’s large-scale sculptures embed the fluidity of this cyclical practice into rigid and industrial materials such as Corten steel and marine paint, materials that bridge their family heritage of ship building and their sculptural practice.

Robertson’s public sculpture Drench, inspired by the energy of the tidal zone, was exhibited in Regent’s Park, London as part of Frieze Sculpture 2022, curated by Clare Lilley. Robertson’s first public sculpture Stone (Butch) was installed at London’s iconic Gherkin skyscraper 2021-22, commissioned for the 10th edition of ‘Sculpture in the City’. Stone (Butch) is now installed at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, where is it part of the permanent collection. Past solo presentations include Torsos, Maximillian William, London and Subterrane, Maximillian William, London. Past group exhibitions include WINK WINK at Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Rossendale; We Are Floating In Space, Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Newlyn / Penzance; TRICKSTER FIGURES: sculpture and the body curated by Jes Fernie at MK Gallery, Milton Keynes; Behind abstract forms, Fragment, New York; On Queer Ground, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield; Seen, Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange; Into Abstraction, The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield and Exploratory Drawings, Maximillian William, London. Works by Robertson are also held in the collection of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, The Hepworth Wakefield and Leeds Museums & Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery). Robertson is currently participating in a group presentation at The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, New York curated by Gemma Rolls-Bentley. In early 2024, Wakefield Council will unveil a newly commissioned monumental, site-specific work by Ro Robertson following four public sculpture commissions in Wakefield city by leading British artists. In December 2023, Robertson will be creating a new installation at Tate St Ives as part of the Modern Conversations displays.

Download full CV here

SELECTED WORKS

EXHIBITIONS

PRESS

Feb28
STUDIO INTERNATIONAL
STUDIO INTERNATIONAL

‘Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body’ by Anna McNay    

February 2023
Oct10
ART NEWS
ART NEWS

‘Frieze Sculpture Presents a Bevy of Public Art.’ by Elizabeth Fullerton

October 2022
Sep27
TATE ETC
TATE ETC

‘Dancing in the Rain’ by Ro Robertson.

September 2022
Jul21
FRIEZE
FRIEZE

Frieze Announces Major International Artists at Frieze Sculpture 2022

July 2022
Jul02
WALLPAPER
WALLPAPER

Yorkshire Sculpture Park celebrates ‘Summer of Love’

July 2022
May21
FINANCIAL TIMES
FINANCIAL TIMES

‘The Magic of Stonehenge’ by Aimee Farrell

May 2022
May19
TOAST PODCAST
TOAST PODCAST

Ro Robertson interviewed by Laura Barton

May 2022
Jan15
ART UK
ART UK

Ten artists to follow by Lydia Figes

January 2022
Jan15
HEPWORTH RESEARCH NETWORK
HEPWORTH RESEARCH NETWORK

Terrain of the Queer Body by Rosanne Robertson

January 2022

RELATED CONTENT

Jul25
Sharing Stories: LGBT Rights Activist on Ro Robertson’s ‘Stack (Body Set in Motion)’
Sharing Stories: LGBT Rights Activist on Ro Robertson’s ‘Stack (Body Set in Motion)’

Sophie Griffiths, LGBT rights activist and sea swimmer, talks to the Sainsbury Art Centre about their relationship with gender and…

July 2023
May22
Ro Robertson: Wink Wink
Ro Robertson: Wink Wink

Ro Robertson is part of the group show, ‘Wink Wink’ at The Whitaker. Curated by Garth Gratrix, the exhibition playfully…

May 2023
May16
Ro Robertson: Screening and Performance: (Up) Against Nature
Ro Robertson: Screening and Performance: (Up) Against Nature

Ro Robertson will present a screening and performance alongside artist and drag king Whiskey Chow. Ro’s performance will include a…

May 2023
Feb11
Ro Robertson: Behind abstract forms
Ro Robertson: Behind abstract forms

Ro Robertson is part of the group show ‘Behind abstract forms’ at Fragment, New York City, curated by Alexander Shchurenkov.…

February 2023
Feb07
Ro Robertson: Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body
Ro Robertson: Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body

Ro Robertson is part of the group show ‘Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body’ at MK Gallery, curated by Jes…

February 2023
Nov24
Ro Robertson: Public Sculpture in Wakefield
Ro Robertson: Public Sculpture in Wakefield

In summer 2023, Wakefield Council will unveil a series of monumental public sculptures in Wakefield city centre by five leading…

November 2022
Oct11
Ro Robertson: Flux and Rust
Ro Robertson: Flux and Rust

Ro Robertson introduces us to their transformatory work Drench at Frieze Sculpture 2022. Inspired by the tidal zone, five forms made…

October 2022
Sep06
Ro Robertson: Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Ro Robertson: Yorkshire Sculpture Park

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Ro Robertson’s Stone (Butch) (2021) into the Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s permanent collection.…

September 2022
Jun30
Ro Robertson: Summer of Love
Ro Robertson: Summer of Love

Ro Robertson is included in the open air presentation The Summer of Love at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield. Robertson’s sculpture Stone (butch),…

June 2022