Steve McQueen

Born in London, England in 1969, Steve McQueen is an artist, film director, and screenwriter currently based in London and Amsterdam. His themes are universal and often focus on painful biographies. McQueen has mastered the art of minimalist storytelling to deliver the utmost impact on his viewers. In his own words he "wants to put the public in a situation where everyone becomes acutely sensitive to themselves, to their body and respiration."

Large-scale surveys of McQueen's work have been held at Tate Modern, London in 2020, the Schaulager, Basel in 2013 and the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012. Forthcoming institutional shows include Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan (2022). Recent solo presentations include “Steve McQueen: Year 3”, Tate Britain, London (2019-2021), and exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, Massachusetts (2017); The Whitworth, Manchester (2017); the Pérez Art Museum, Miami (2017); The Museum of Modern Art, New York (2017); the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois (2017); and The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2016). McQueen has previously participated in Documenta XII (2007), XI (2002) and X (1997), and the Venice Biennale (2015, 2013, 2007, and 2003), representing Great Britain in Venice in 2009.

Most recently he has written and directed “Small Axe” (2020), an anthology of five films about the West Indian experience in London, and “Uprising” (2021), a suite of 3 films for the BBC about the New Cross Fire in London in 1981. He has directed four feature films, most recently “Widows” (2018). His first, “Hunger” (2008), was awarded the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and his third, “12 Years a Slave” (2013), received the Golden Globe, Oscar, and BAFTA awards for best picture in 2014.