Luke Elwes
Encyclopedia
Luke Elwes is a British
contemporary artist.
, where he now works and lives with his wife, Anneke Elwes and two sons Jake Elwes and Toby Elwes. His early years were spent in Teheran, Persia, where the light and space of the desert were a formative influence.
Between 1979 and 1985 he studied History at Bristol University and Painting at Camberwell School of Art.
While working at Christies he began to travel and write, and after meeting Bruce Chatwin
in 1987 he went to the central Australian desert to explore the landscape and its use in aboriginal
storytelling and artforms.
Since then he has continued to travel extensively, discovering and revisiting remote locations in India
, Asia Minor
and North Africa
.
In 1998 he was artist in residence on an expedition to Mount Kailash
, a holy mountain in western Tibet
.
Since his first exhibition in 1990 he has had twelve one man shows in London
, Paris
and New York
.
His work was inspired by the landscapes of Osea Island
where he rented a cottage with his family for many years.
He is currently represented by Art First Contemporary.
He also writes about contemporary painting for journals including Modern Painters, Galleries and the Royal Academy
magazine, and is currently undertaking postgraduate research at Birkbeck, University of London
.
Collections include the Bayer
Collection; Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
; Christie's
Contemporary Art Collection; Deutsche Hypo Bank; Luther Pendragon Collection and The National Trust
Foundation for Art.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
contemporary artist.
Biography
Elwes was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he now works and lives with his wife, Anneke Elwes and two sons Jake Elwes and Toby Elwes. His early years were spent in Teheran, Persia, where the light and space of the desert were a formative influence.
Between 1979 and 1985 he studied History at Bristol University and Painting at Camberwell School of Art.
While working at Christies he began to travel and write, and after meeting Bruce Chatwin
Bruce Chatwin
Charles Bruce Chatwin was an English novelist and travel writer. He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel On the Black Hill...
in 1987 he went to the central Australian desert to explore the landscape and its use in aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
storytelling and artforms.
Since then he has continued to travel extensively, discovering and revisiting remote locations in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
In 1998 he was artist in residence on an expedition to Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet...
, a holy mountain in western Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
.
Since his first exhibition in 1990 he has had twelve one man shows in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
His work was inspired by the landscapes of Osea Island
Osea Island
Osea Island is an inhabited island in the estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex, East England. It is approximately in size and is connected to the north bank of the river by a causeway, covered at high water....
where he rented a cottage with his family for many years.
He is currently represented by Art First Contemporary.
He also writes about contemporary painting for journals including Modern Painters, Galleries and the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
magazine, and is currently undertaking postgraduate research at Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
.
Selected collections
Collections include the Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
Collection; Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a public hospital located on Fulham Road, in the Chelsea area of London, England. It is managed by the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and opened in May 1993.-History:...
; Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
Contemporary Art Collection; Deutsche Hypo Bank; Luther Pendragon Collection and The National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
Foundation for Art.
Solo exhibitions
- Bungle Bungle, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (1990)
- Landcross, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (1991)
- Storyline, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (1993)
- Peintures, Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (1993)
- Island, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (1995)
- Pilgrim, Art First, London (1998)
- Sanctuary, Art First, London (2000)
- Peintures, Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (2001)
- The Osea Paintings, Art First, London (2002)
- Recent Paintings, Art First, New York (2002)
- Compass, Art First, London (2004)
- Flowing Ground, Broadbent Gallery, London (2005)
- Refugia, Art First, London (2007)
- Genius Loci, Galleria Ceribelli, Bergamo, Italy (2008)
Selected group shows
- 38eme Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Grand Palais, Paris (1987)
- 39eme Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Grand Palais, Paris (1988)
- Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh (1988)
- The Broad Horizon, Agnews, London (1990)
- Il Sud Del Mondo, L’Altra Arte Contemporanea, Marsala, Sicily, and Milan, Italy (1991)
- Earthscape, Hastings & Southampton City Art Gallery (1991)
- Songlines, Barbican , London (1991)
- Spring, Barbican, London (chosen by The Spectator)(1992)
- Reflections, Edinburgh & London (chosen by The Spectator)(1993)
- Celebration, New British Art, Benjamin Rhodes Gallery, London (1994).
- Sanctuary Commission Project (with Maggi HamblingMaggi HamblingMaggi Hambling CBE is an English painter and sculptor. Perhaps her best known public works are a memorial to Oscar Wilde in central London and Scallop, a 4 metre high steel sculpture of two interlocking scallop shells on Aldeburgh beach dedicated to Benjamin Britten...
, Shirazah Houshiary, Keith grant, Mali Morris), Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London (1994) - Centenary, Contemporary British Art & the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural BeautyThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
', Christie’s, London (1995) - Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (as invited artist) (1995)
- Endangered Spaces, Council for the Protection of Rural England, Christies, London (1996)
- Bayer Earth Art Prize,(Highly Commended), London (1996)
- 14th Annual Open, Royal Overseas League, London & Edinburgh (1997)
- Royal Academy Summer ExhibitionRoyal Academy summer exhibitionThe Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
(1998) - The Hunting Group Art Prizes, London and Bath (1999)
- Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (2000)
- 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Art First, London (2001)
- Water’s edge, Art First, London (Luke Elwes, Anthony Whishaw, Lino Mannocci) (2002)
- Royal Academy Summer ExhibitionRoyal Academy summer exhibitionThe Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
(2003) - Look, Stranger! Art First, London (Luke Elwes, Alex Lowery, Bridget MacDonald) (2003)
- Royal Academy Summer ExhibitionRoyal Academy summer exhibitionThe Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
(2005) - Singer & Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, London (2005)
- Translations', work from the National Gallery (London), Art First, London (2006)
- Celeste Art Prize, London (2007)
- Mapping, Bury Art Gallery, Manchester (2007)
- Gli Amici Pittori Di Londra, Galleria Ceribelli, Bergamo & Galleria Ghelfi, Vicenza, Italy (2007)
- Genius Loci, Galleria Ceribelli, BergamoBergamoBergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, Italy (2008)
Publications
- Bungle Bungle, the Australian Paintings,by Colin Gleadell, Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1990), ISBN 1-872022-20-0
- Island, Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1995), ISBN 1-872022-90-1
- Pilgrim, by Andrew Lambirth, Art First (February 1998), ISBN 1-901993-03-5
- Luke Elwes, Sanctuary, by Nicholas Usherwood, Art First Contemporary Art (2000), ISBN 1-901993-17-5
- Luke Elwes at Art First, The (London) Independent, Sep 21, 2004 by Sue Hubbard
- Roger HiltonRoger HiltonRoger Hilton CBE was a pioneer of abstract art in post-war Britain. He was born in 1911 in Northwood, London and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, London under Henry Tonks and also in Paris, where he developed links with painters on the Continent.In World War II he served in the Army, part...
: Swinging Out into the Void by Andrew Lambirth (Author), Luke Elwes (Author), Anett Hauswald (Author),Kettle's Yard Gallery (August 2, 2008), ISBN 1-904561-29-2 - Genius loci, Luke Elwes (2008), Ediz. italiana e inglese, Editore Lubrina-LEB (collana Arte moderna e contemporanea)