Born in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, Simeon Barclay pursued his formal art education at Leeds Metropolitan University before completing his studies at Goldsmiths College in London. His practice emerged through a focus on the construction of identity, often drawing from personal and collective histories to interrogate social structures.

Barclay works across a variety of media, including sculpture, video, and installation, frequently employing found imagery and archival materials to create layered, evocative compositions. His work is characterized by a critical engagement with the aesthetics of power and the nuances of cultural representation.

His career has seen significant institutional recognition, with exhibitions at prominent venues such as the South London Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts. In 2026, his profile was further elevated by his inclusion on the shortlist for the Turner Prize, with a featured exhibition scheduled at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.