Gavin Turk

Artist biography:

Born in 1967 in Guildford

Studied at the Royal College of Art (1989-91). However, in 1991 his tutors refused to give him the final degree because of his show, 'Cave' which consisted of a whitewashed studio space, containing only a blue heritage plaque (of the kind normally found on historic buildings) commemorating his own presence as a sculptor.

Turk's pieces often involve his own image disguised as that of a more famous person. He has cast himself in a series of detailed life-sized sculptures as different romantic heroes, including Sid Vicious, Jean-Paul Marat and the leftist revolutionary ChÉ Guevara.

Gavin exhibited at the latest Venice Biennale earlier this year and at his solo exhibition, 'Jazz' at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York.