The renowned London-based artist Alvaro Barrington will be the featured visual artist for the Notting Hill Carnival Commission 2025, showcasing his work on a Carnival float during the two-day festival on August 24 and 25. His commissioned piece will be displayed on the truck of the Mangrove Mas Band, marking his fourth consecutive year collaborating with the event.
Born in Caracas in 1983 to Grenadian and Haitian parents and raised in Grenada and New York, Barrington currently lives and works in London. His multidisciplinary practice encompasses painting, textiles, and installation, often drawing upon Caribbean motifs to explore themes of identity and community celebration.
The Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival, attracts millions of visitors each year and is an integral part of London’s cultural landscape. This year, organisers, including Carnival Village Trust and Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, have secured around £958,000 in additional funding from City Hall and local borough councils to improve public safety and infrastructure.
Barrington’s involvement aligns with a broader artistic vision to incorporate community-led art and performances into Carnival. The introduction of the Collaboration Truck initiative allows emerging and smaller bands greater access to the parade, reflecting Barrington’s commitment to inclusivity. His float-mounted artwork promises to merge contemporary Caribbean art with Carnival’s vibrant street traditions, offering a visual celebration to complement the festival’s musical and dance elements in west London each August.
