Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Phyllida Barlow studied at Chelsea College of Art and the Slade School of Art. She maintained a long-standing career as an educator, teaching at the Slade for over four decades and influencing a significant generation of contemporary artists before retiring from academia in 2009.

Barlow was celebrated for her use of humble, non-traditional materials such as plywood, plaster, cement, scrim, and industrial tape. Her sculptures often occupied the full volume of a gallery, creating immersive, precarious environments that emphasized the physical process of construction and the transience of the objects themselves.

Her international profile grew significantly in her later years, culminating in her representation of Great Britain at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Her legacy remains tied to her transformative approach to site-specific installation and her commitment to the materiality of sculpture.