A Stanmore-based artist has been shortlisted for the John Ruskin Prize 2026, with his work selected from nearly 4,000 entries from across the UK.
Ravi Modi, who is based in Stanmore, will have his artwork exhibited at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London from 29 January to 21 February 2026. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
The John Ruskin Prize is one of the UK’s leading exhibitions for contemporary art. It is awarded to artists whose work reflects social engagement, critical thinking and the spirit of John Ruskin, the Victorian art critic and social thinker. Each year, a panel of judges selects a shortlist from thousands of submissions, with works shown publicly as part of a national exhibition.
Ravi’s shortlisted piece reimagines the historic Snellen eye chart as a bronze sculpture. The work explores themes of vision, memory and perception, and challenges ideas around what is considered “normal”.
Image supplied by Ravi Modi.
In an artwork statement, Ravi said: “What do you see?”
“It echoed not only from ophthalmologists but from everyone around me after I lost an eye.”
He explained that the piece took more than a year to complete and revisits the original 1862 eye chart, which was designed around standardisation and conformity. The bronze used in the sculpture comes from his archaeological hometown, adding historical weight to the work.
Ravi said: “The chart doesn’t ask what one sees, but how closely one conforms.”
In his artist statement, Ravi reflects on how losing an eye shaped both his life and practice.
He said: “What might seem like a limitation has, in fact, become a methodology.”
Ravi Modi art.
The upcoming exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf will showcase shortlisted artists from across the UK, with Ravi’s work standing alongside other contemporary pieces selected for their originality and depth.
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