Gilbert & George

Gilbert & George (Gilbert Prousch, b. 17 September 1943, Italy; and George Passmore, b. 8 January 1942, England) are one of the most distinctive and influential collaborative art duos in contemporary British art. Since they first met as sculpture students at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London in 1967, they have worked together as a unified artistic entity, famously declaring their entire life to be art.For over five decades, Gilbert & George have developed a singular artistic practice that blurs the boundaries between art and everyday life. Their early work—most notably their “living sculptures”—saw them presenting themselves in matching suits, often covered in metallic powders, performing in galleries and festivals to challenge conventional ideas about sculpture and performance.Their signature body of work, known simply as The Pictures, combines large-scale photographic panels with vivid color and graphic design. These multi-paneled compositions frequently include their own likenesses and address universal themes such as identity, religion, politics, sexuality, urban life, and social conflict.Gilbert & George’s work is celebrated for its bold visual language, irreverent humor, and provocative subject matter—often courting controversy while remaining deeply rooted in a humanist view of society. They adopted the slogan “Art for All” to express their belief that art should be accessible beyond elite cultural circles.The duo’s contributions to contemporary art have been widely recognized internationally. They have received major awards including the prestigious Turner Prize (1986) and have represented the United Kingdom at the Venice Biennale (2005). Their work has been exhibited worldwide in major museums and galleries and has inspired generations of artists.Based in East London since the late 1960s, Gilbert & George remain inseparable collaborators, their shared life and practice continuing to be a compelling testament to the power of artistic partnership.