Abstract artwork with vibrant colors on two large square panels.

Tavares Strachan’s Encyclopedic Vision: From Nassau to Outer Space

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-06-12

Tavares Strachan‘s artistic journey unfolds like a vast encyclopedia, encapsulating intricate narratives and overlooked histories. His 2018 creation, a 2,400-page encyclopedia, challenges the omissions within traditional records, offering 15,000 entries on pivotal yet neglected figures, events, and places.

Discover how art is used to preserve culture in spatial architecture that challenges conventional norms.

Born in Nassau, Strachan emerges as a leading conceptual artist. His first monograph, launching in July from Phaidon, delves into decades of his transformative practices.

Strachan’s art confronts colonial legacies and historical erasure while embracing present and future possibilities. He founded the Bahamas Aerospace and Sea Exploration Center (BASEC) in 2018. That year, the center launched a 3U satellite, narrating the story of Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first African-American astronaut, on a three-year solar orbit.

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The monograph coincides with Strachan’s exhibition, “The Day Tomorrow Began,” at The Pizzuti in Ohio. Running through January 3, it aligns with his belief that making a book is a spiritual journey in “sharing information,” as he says.

Sculptural installation in resin and steel depicting two historical figures.
“In Praise of Midnight (Christophe × Napoleon)” (2025), resin and steel, 485 x 345 x 155 centimeters
Art installation with performance elements, set in a museum space.
“The Barber Shop” (2025), performance, installation, dimensions variable. Installation view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Large-scale sculptural installation with geometric forms in gallery.
“Black Star” (2024), aluminum, fiberglass, steel, painted wood, 543 x 1210 x 200 centimeters. Installation view at Hayward Gallery, London
Aerial view of an art studio with organized spaces and natural light.
an aerial view of the artist’s studio
Portrait of Tavares Strachan in a laboratory setting, surrounded by equipment.
Tavares Strachan, Isolated Labs, New York, 2025. Photo by Jason Schmidt
Cover of Tavares Strachan's art monograph with abstract design.
the cover of Tavares Strachan’s monograph

Sources & Links

Source: thisiscolossal.com