Gilbert & George are among the most influential and recognisable artists of the past half-century. Since meeting at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London in 1967, they have worked as a single artistic entity, dissolving the distinction between individual authorship and collective practice. Declaring themselves “Living Sculptures”, they transformed their lives into an ongoing artwork and developed a body of work guided by their enduring belief in “Art for All”, creating art that speaks directly to audiences beyond the confines of the traditional art world.

From their home and studio in London’s East End, Gilbert & George have built a singular visual language that examines the complexities of contemporary life through themes including identity, religion, sexuality, race, politics, mortality and belief. Their large-scale picture works, often characterised by vivid colours, bold graphic structures and provocative text, transform everyday experiences into powerful reflections on the human condition. For more than five decades, they have chronicled the changing social and cultural landscape of London while addressing questions that resonate far beyond the city itself.

In 2023, Gilbert & George collaborated with CIRCA on The Believing World, a specially commissioned “video sculpture” presented to mark CIRCA’s third anniversary. Broadcast nightly across Piccadilly Lights and CIRCA’s global network of screens in Berlin, Seoul, Tokyo and Los Angeles, the work transformed one of the world’s most iconic advertising screens into a platform for reflection on the nature of belief. Filmed in the courtyard of the artists’ eighteenth-century home and studio in Spitalfields, The Believing World featured Gilbert & George reading 144 handwritten statements that explored the contradictions, comforts and dangers of belief in contemporary society. Structured as a multi-screen composition that echoed both their celebrated picture works and the historic geometry of Piccadilly Lights itself, the commission brought their practice into dialogue with public space on an unprecedented global scale.

Presented in collaboration with The Gilbert & George Centre, the artists’ gift to the people of London, The Believing World reflected the values that have defined their work since 1967: accessibility, directness and a commitment to engaging audiences from all walks of life. Through humour, provocation and candour, the commission invited viewers to confront uncomfortable questions while celebrating art’s capacity to function as a universal language.

Gilbert & George have exhibited internationally since 1970 and have been the subject of major exhibitions at institutions including Tate Modern, the Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn Museum, Moderna Museet and the Venice Biennale, where they represented Britain in 2005. Awarded the Turner Prize in 1986, they continue to occupy a unique position in contemporary culture. Through an unwavering commitment to their shared vision, Gilbert & George have created one of the most distinctive and enduring artistic collaborations in modern history.