Black Chapel, the 21st Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Theaster Gates Photography Iwan Baan 2022

The Pomonan
Published 6-07-2022 5:17pm PST

London— The Black Chapel pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery is the 21st of a sequence of pavilions built in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London.

It investigates the link between art, architectural design, and spirituality, according to the designers, in an effort to reconnect London's populous with spiritual environmental experiences. The Black Chapel is a vessel and receptacle for those who desire to assemble.

Gates is the first artist that isn’t an architect to be award the commission, to design and build the pavilion , although it was executed with the help of architect David Adjaye and associates.

The pavilion is a black cylinder design constructed of lightweight wood and materials sourced sustainably. Seven suspended panels within the pavilion pay tribute to Gates' late father's profession as a roofer. A bronze bell salvaged from St. Laurence, a historic Catholic Church on Chicago's South Side, rests at the entryway.

Theaster Gates, a Chicago based artist is known for repurposing buildings and communities with through art. Gates' work focuses on space theory and land development, as well as sculpture and performance. Gates reclaims abandoned sites by drawing on his passion and experience in urban planning and preservation. Projects include but not limited to the Stony Island Arts Bank, Dorchester Art Housing Collaborative, in addition to the Rebuild Foundation.

Gates is also a professor at the University of Chicago in the Visual Arts department. In addition, Gates also serves as the Senior Advisor for Cultural Innovation and Advisor to the Dean. Gates is Director of Artists Initiatives at the Lunder Institute for American Art at Colby College Museum of Art. Gates also was a 2018/2019 Artist-in-Residence at the Getty Research Institute.

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