The Wick List

Viewing Alvaro Barrington: 92-01 ‘In Livin Color’ at Emalin

The Wick Culture - Alvaro Barrington, Auntie 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

Above Alvaro Barrington, Auntie 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

The Wick Culture - Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

The Wick Culture - Alvaro Barrington, Ariel Cumberbatch, Shamara Roper, Never let them know ur next move, 2026 (detail). Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Alvaro Barrington, Ariel Cumberbatch, Shamara Roper, Never let them know ur next move, 2026 (detail). Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

The Wick Culture - Alvaro Barrington,
Backwards Cap aka The Moroccan, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

Above Alvaro Barrington, Backwards Cap aka The Moroccan, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

The Wick Culture - Alvaro Barrington, Cross Colors 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Alvaro Barrington, Cross Colors 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

Above Alvaro Barrington, Auntie 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

Above Alvaro Barrington, Ariel Cumberbatch, Shamara Roper, Never let them know ur next move, 2026 (detail). Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

Above Alvaro Barrington, Backwards Cap aka The Moroccan, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Arthur Gray

Above Alvaro Barrington, Cross Colors 26, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Emalin, London © Alvaro Barrington. Photo: Stephen James

Above Courtesy of the artist and Emalin, London. Photo: Stephen James

Emalin
4-8 Helmet Row
London
EC1V 3QJ
6 June – 15 August

The art of survival.

Alvaro Barrington returns to Emalin for his third solo exhibition with the gallery. 92-01 ‘In Livin Color’ presents a new body of work examining the devastating impact of the crack cocaine epidemic on Black communities in the United States during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Across four distinct environments, Barrington traces the cultural responses that emerged during this period, exploring how fashion, music and other art forms gave communities space for expression and connection as the epidemic affected families and neighbourhoods across America.

Community has long been central to Barrington’s work, from his paintings and collaborations to his 2024 Tate Britain commission, GRACE. In 92-01 ‘In Livin Color’, he turns to a difficult chapter in recent history and to the cultural forms that grew around it. A timely show from an artist who understands that personal history is rarely separate from the wider world.