Tavares Strachan’s First Monograph Surveys an Encyclopedic Practice

Tavares Strachan is an artist whose interests, references, and approaches to making stretch so broadly, it’s not surprising that one of his more well-known works is an encyclopedia. Created in 2018, the 2,400-page volume contains 15,000 entries on individuals, events, places, and more that are critical to understanding our shared history, and yet were omitted from the Encyclopedia Britannica. This inverse book-cum-sculpture is one of many pieces within Strachan’s oeuvre that question the narratives we collectively disseminate.

Born in Nassau, the Bahamian artist is one of the leading conceptual artists working today, and his first monograph, out this month from Phaidon, peers into decades of his expansive practice.

a collage with images of owls, crosswords, jet magazine, queen elizabeth and more
“Every Tongue Shall Confess” (2023), oil, enamel, pigment, and acrylic on two panels, 213 x 213 centimeters

While much of Strachan’s work considers colonialism and historical erasure, the artist is deeply rooted in the present and future. Our changing climate and the push for space exploration figure prominently and even sparked the scientific research platform, Bahamas Aerospace and Sea Exploration Center (BASEC), which Strachan founded in 2018. That project launched a 3U satellite into space for a three-year orbit around the sun that same year, which shared the story of Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first African-American astronaut within any national space program.

The book’s release coincides with Strachan’s exhibition The Day Tomorrow Began at The Pizzuti, part of the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, which runs through January 3. In true Strachan fashion, creating the monograph goes beyond simply gathering the various projects and shows within his practice. “When you make a book, you are participating in this very long historic lineage of bookmaking and sharing information,” he says, adding that there’s a strong spiritual connection between presenting work in person and on the page.

Get your copy from the Colossal Shop.

a black titled sculpture of a person riding a horse with a mirrored scene upside down
“In Praise of Midnight (Christophe × Napoleon)” (2025), resin and steel, 485 x 345 x 155 centimeters
an installation in a dark room of a barber shop
“The Barber Shop” (2025), performance, installation, dimensions variable. Installation view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
a ship with a black star on it
“Black Star” (2024), aluminum, fiberglass, steel, painted wood, 543 x 1210 x 200 centimeters. Installation view at Hayward Gallery, London
an aerial view of the artist's studio
a photo of the artist in his studio
Tavares Strachan, Isolated Labs, New York, 2025. Photo by Jason Schmidt
the cover of Tavares Strachan's monograph

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Tavares Strachan’s First Monograph Surveys an Encyclopedic Practice appeared first on Colossal.

©

Related Posts

Matt Bua’s ‘Repurposed City’ in Upstate New York Just Hit the MarketMatt Bua’s ‘Repurposed City’ in Upstate New York Just Hit the Market
Matt Bua’s ‘Repurposed City’ in Upstate New...
On nearly 27 wooded acres outside the town of Catskill,...
Read more
Tavares Strachan’s First Monograph Surveys an Encyclopedic PracticeTavares Strachan’s First Monograph Surveys an Encyclopedic Practice
Inside Track: April 26th – May 2nd...
Here are our hand-selected favorites from eBay for this week,...
Read more
colorful pops of color in artist kate scheltercolorful pops of color in artist kate schelter
living with art.
In this intimate manhattan home tour on domino, we get...
Read more
victorian home in bristol, england for sale on the modern house real estate website. / sfgirlbybayvictorian home in bristol, england for sale on the modern house real estate website. / sfgirlbybay
cosy modern victorian (for sale).
i recently stumbled upon a new kind of real estate...
Read more
Suzanne Jongmans Recycles Everyday Materials for Elegant Renaissance-Style PortraitsSuzanne Jongmans Recycles Everyday Materials for Elegant Renaissance-Style Portraits
Suzanne Jongmans Recycles Everyday Materials for Elegant...
From materials we normally discard like padded packaging or the...
Read more
Azure January February 2023 issue coverAzure January February 2023 issue cover
NBBJ’s People-Centred Approach to Healthcare Design
Architects and designers worth their salt understand the importance of...
Read more