Lucy + Jorge Orta

Lucy Orta (United Kingdom, 1966) + Jorge Orta (Argentina, 1953) employ a diversity of media in their collaborative visual arts practice, including drawing, sculpture and performance, to realise major bodies of work that address key social and ecological challenges. Amongst their most emblematic bodies of work are: Refuge Wear and Body Architecture, portable minimum habitats bridging architecture and dress; Nexus Architecture investigates alternative models of the social link; HortiRecycling and 70 x 7 The Meal question the local and global food chain and rituals of community feasting; OrtaWater and Clouds reflect on water scarcity and the problems arising from its pollution and corporate control; Antarctica considers the effects of climate change on migration, and Amazonia explores interwoven ecosystems and their value to our natural environment.
In recognition of their contribution to sustainability, the artists received the Green Leaf Award for artistic excellence with an environmental message, presented by the United Nations Environment Programme in partnership with the Natural World Museum at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway (2007). Their monumental Cloud: Meteoros was selected for the inaugural Terrace Wires public art commission for St Pancras International in London (2013).
Their most recent and significant exhibitions include Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennial, Diriyah (2024); Centre Pompidou-Metz, Metz (2022); Flughafen Tempelhof, Berlin (2021); New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (2021); Palazzo Vecchio, Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, and Museo Novecento, Florence (2019), and Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (2018).