Luke Willis Thompson

Luke Willis Thompson, Untitled (2025) and Untitled (2024), diptych Exhibition view, „Yes, Germany voted in favor of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) when it was adopted by the General Assembly on September 13, 2007.“, Nagel Draxler Kabinett, 2025 Photo by Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson, Untitled, 2024 C-Print, 68 x 85 cm Photography: Victor Staaf Exhibition view, „Yes, Germany voted in favor of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) when it was adopted by the General Assembly on September 13, 2007.“, Nagel Draxler Kabinett, 2025 Photo by Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson, Untitled, 2025 Lithium gelatin print, 29,5 x 24 cm (framed dimensions) Photography: Lewin St Cyr Exhibition view, „Yes, Germany voted in favor of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) when it was adopted by the General Assembly on September 13, 2007.“, Nagel Draxler Kabinett, 2025 Photo by Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson, „Whakamoemoeã“, 2025; film still Sharjah Biennial 16 „to carry“, Sharjah, UAE

Luke Willis Thompson „Mouvement des Malades“, 2024 Exhibition view Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin 2024. Photo: Sascha Herrmann

Luke Willis Thompson „Mouvement des Malades“, 2023 Pencil on paper Photo: Sascha Herrmann

Luke Willis Thompson Exhibition view Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin 2024. Photo: Sascha Herrmann

Luke Willis Thompson „Untitled“, 2024 C-print, 68 x 85 cm Photo: Sascha Herrmann

Luke Willis Thompson „(a) breathing: collective noun“, 2021 The work comes in an edtion fo 3 + 1 AP as digital file of the image, that can be produced by the owner in any format.

Luke Willis Thompson (a) breathing: collective noun, 2021 installation view on the facade of the former U.S. Embassy building in Oslo, designed by Eero Saarinen, opposite the Nobel Institute, until December 2021

Luke Willis Thompson
„Cipher“, 2019
Two hand printed colour photographs on Fuji Film DP2 Matt, four catalogue images, thirteen
color and B&W photocopies; all spray mounted
170 x 120cm
Edition of 1 + 1 AP

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
„Black Leadership“, 2019
Latex B&W print on backlit material, aluminum lightbox, LED
149 x 122 cm
Edition of 3 + 1 AP

Luke Willis Thompson
“Adjacency (United States v. Slager)”, 2019
Hand printed colour photograph on Kodak Endura Premier
Diasec, Aludibond
222 cm x 174 cm

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
“adjacency”
Exhibition view, 2019
Nagel Draxler Kabinett, Berlin

Photo: Simom Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
“Two Bullets strike Castile Heart”, 2019
Hand printed colour photograph on Kodak Endura Premier
Diasec, Aludibond
147 x 119 cm

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
“Adjacency (State v. Jeronimo Yanez)”, 2019
Hand printed colour photograph on Kodak Endura Premier
Diasec, Aludibond
222 cm x 174 cm

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
“Black Leadership”, 2019
Latex B&W print on backlit material, aluminum lightbox, LED
149 x 122 cm

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
„Black Leadership“, 2019
16mm lm, b&w, silent 2’40’’@24fps Kodak Black and White Print Film ESTAR Base 2min 40sec

Exhibition view, 2019
„hysterical strength“
GAMeC- Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo

Photo: Antonio Maniscalco

Luke Willis Thompson
„Cemetery of Uniforms and Liveries“, 2016
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2019
„hysterical strength“
GAMeC- Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo

Photo: Antonio Maniscalco

Luke Willis Thompson
Exhibition view, 2019
„hysterical strength“
GAMeC- Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo

Photo: Antonio Maniscalco

Luke Willis Thompson
„_Human“, 2018
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2019
„hysterical strength“
GAMeC- Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo

Photo: Antonio Maniscalco

Luke Willis Thompson
„autoportrait“, 2017
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2019
„hysterical strength“
GAMeC- Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo

Photo: Antonio Maniscalco

Luke Willis Thompson
„autoportrait“, 2017
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2018
„Turner Prize“
TATE Britain, London

Photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

Luke Willis Thompson
„Cemetery of Uniforms and Liveries“, 2016
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2018
„Turner Prize“
TATE Britain, London

Photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

Luke Willis Thompson
„_Human“, 2018
from: „Untitled Trilogy“, 2016-2018

Installation view, 2018
„Turner Prize“
TATE Britain, London

Photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

Luke Willis Thompson
Exhibition view, 2018
„Turner Prize“
TATE Britain, London

Photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

Luke Willis Thompson
„audioportrait“, 2017
35mm, b&w, silent 8 minutes, 50 seconds @ 24 fps 35mm Kodak Eastman Double-X BW

Installation view
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi at Victoria University of Wellington, 2018

Luke Willis Thompson
„How Long?“, 2018
16mm, colour, silent
11 minutes, 26 seconds @ 24 fps
Kodak Vision 3 250d colour negative film transferred to digital video

Installation view
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi at Victoria University of Wellington, 2018

Luke Willis Thompson
„Cemetery of Uniforms and Liveries“, 2016
16mm, b&w, silent; 9.1@16fps
Kodak Tri-X 16mm b&w reversal stock
HD video telecine transfer

Installation view
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi at Victoria University of Wellington, 2018

Luke Willis Thompson
„How Long?“, 2018 & „audioportrait“, 2017

Installation view
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi at Victoria University of Wellington, 2018

Luke Willis Thompson
„autoportrait“, 2017
35mm, b&w, silent 8 minutes, 50 seconds @ 24 fps 35mm Kodak Eastman Double-X BW

Installation view
10th Berlin Biennale, Berlin

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
Untitled, 2015
Bronze of water fountain with found original parts

Installation view
10th Berlin Biennale, Berlin

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
„_Human“, 2018
35 mm film, color, no sound 9 min 33 sec

Luke Willis Thompson
„_Human“, 2018
35 mm film, color, no sound 9 min 33 sec

Installation view
Kunsthalle Basel, 2018

Photo: Philipp Hänger

Luke Willis Thompson with Fiona Amundsen
Untitled, 2015
Inkjet photograph on paper, framed
135,37 x 107 cm

Installation view
Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8), 2015-2016

Luke Willis Thompson
„autoportrait“, 2017
35mm, b&w, silent 8 minutes, 50 seconds @ 24 fps 35mm Kodak Eastman Double-X BW

Installation view
Chisenhale Gallery, London, 2017

Photo: Andy Keate

Luke Willis Thompson
Untitled, 2015
2 unique versions + 1 AP
Bronze of water fountain with found original parts/fitting
52 x 52 x 41 cm

Luke Willis Thompson
Exhibition view
„Misadventure“, 2016
Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane

Foto: Carl Warner, IMA Brisbane

Luke Willis Thompson
„Sucu Mate / Born Dead“, 2016
Concrete Headstones
Dimensions varaible

Luke Willis Thompson with Fiona Amundsen
Untitled, 2015
Inkjet photograph on paper, mounted on dibond
135,37 x 107 cm

Luke Willis Thompson
„Sucu Mate“, 2012
Two 16mm microfilm reels
(with microfilm reader, circa 1500 photographs)

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
„Sucu Mate“, 2012
Two 16mm microfilm reels
(with microfilm reader, circa 1500 photographs)

Installation view
“Nicht mehr, nicht minder als der Sugar”, 2015
Reisebürogalerie, Cologne

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
Untitled, 2015
Bronze of water fountain with found original parts/fitting
52 x 52 x 41 cm

Photo: Simon Vogel

Luke Willis Thompson
Untitled, 2015
Bronze of water fountain with found original parts/fitting
52 x 52 x 41 cm

Installation view
„New Positions“, 2016
Art Cologne, Cologne

Photo: Simon Vogel

Biography

LUKE WILLIS THOMPSON

geboren/born 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand
lebt und arbeitet/lives and works in Auckland und/and London

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AUSBILDUNG / EDUCATION

2013-2014 Städelschule, Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (Guest Student, Prof. Willem de Rooij)
2010 MFA Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland
2009 BFA Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland

RESIDENCIES

2016/17 Chisenhale Gallery Create Residency, London
2014 Sa Sa Bassac Cambodia Exchange Project, Cambodia
2013 Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt am Main

PREISE UND NOMINIERUNGEN / AWARDS AND NOMINEES

2018
Turner Prize 2018 (nominiert/nominated)
Schering Kunstpreis 2018 (nominiert/nominated)
21. Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize

2014
Walters Prize

AUSSTELLUNGEN/PROJEKTE (AUSWAHL) / EXHIBITIONS/PROJECTS (SELECTION)

2025
"to carry", Sharjah Biennale 16, Sharjah, UAE
Nagel Draxler Kabinett, Berlin

2024
"Mouvement des Malades", Nagel Draxler @ Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin
"Mouvement des Malades", Coastal Signs x Michael Lett Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland (solo)

2022
"The Mouth is for Speaking", WE ARE AIA | Awareness in Art, Zurich (group)

2020
PHOTO 2020 International Festival of Photography, Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren. (group)

2019
"adjacency", Nagel Draxler Kabinett, Berlin (solo)
"hysterical strength", GAMeC – Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo, Bergamo (solo)

2018
“Turner Prize 2018”, Tate Britain, London (group)
“Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2018", MMK 3 – Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main (group)
“Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2018", The Photographers’ Gallery, London (group)
10th Berlin Biennale, Berlin (group)
“_Human”, Kunsthalle Basel, Basel (solo)
“Luke Willis Thompson”, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington (solo)

2017
"Luke Willis Thompson: Mourning, Militancy, & Media", Swiss Institute Contemporary Art, New York (artist talk and screening)
"Durchkreuzte Repräsentationen", mumok Kino, mumok, Wien (screening)
“autoportrait”, Hopkinson Mossman, Auckland (solo)
“Luke Willis Thompson”, Chisenhale Gallery, London (solo)
“Shout, Whisper, Wail: The Chartwell Show”, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland (group)

2016
"Cemetery of Uniforms and Liveries", Galerie Nagel Draxler, Berlin (solo)
La Bienniale de Montreal, Montreal (group)
"Live uncertainty",32nd Sao Paulo Bienial, Sao Paulo (group)
"Misadventure", Institute of Modern Art (IMA), Brisbane (solo)
"Light switch and conduit: the Jim Barr and Mary Barr collection", Dunedin Public Art Gallery (group)
"Sucu Mate/Born Dead", Hopkinson Mossman, Auckland (solo)
New Positions @ Art Cologne, Galerie Nagel Draxler, Cologne/Berlin (solo)

2015
"Surround Audience", New Museum Triennial, New York (group)
8th Asia Pacific Triennial, Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane / Gallery of Modern Art, Auckland (group)
"Parked like Serious Oysters", MMK, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main (group)
"nicht mehr, nicht minder als der Sugar", Reisebürogalerie, Cologne (solo)

2014
"Walters Prize Exhibition", Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland (solo)
"Foreign Exchange – or the stories you wouldn’t tell a stranger" (curated by Clémentine Deliss), Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt am Main (group)
"Just as Money is the Paper, the Gallery is the Room", Osage Gallery Shanghai (group)

2013
"On this day alone" (curated by Glenn Barkley), Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne (group)
"If you were to live here...", 5th Auckland Triennial, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Auckland (group)

2012
“Between memory and trace” (curated by Bruce E. Phillips), Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts in Pakuranga, Auckland (group)
“Made Active: The Chartwell Show (curated by Natasha Conland)”, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki (group, performance)
“In Spite of Ourselves: Approaching Documentary“ (curated by Fiona Amundsen, Dieneke Jansen
and Vera Mey), St Paul St Gallery, AUT, Auckland (group)
“inthisholeonthisislandwhereiam”, Hopkinson Cundy, Auckland (solo)

2011
S/F newspaper project, Auckland (publication)
"Yaw", RM, Auckland (solo)

2010
"Elam Graduate Show: MFA Program", Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland (solo)
"MakeShift: Tautai’s third tertiary show" (curated by Nina Tonga), St Paul St Gallery,Auckland
"Memory to the marrow" (with Sue-li Tasker-Yeo), Projectspace B4321, Auckland

2009
"When we read, we really read", George Fraser Gallery, Auckland (group)

2008
"Deadline Authentico!", George Fraser Gallery, Auckland (group)

Luke Willis Thompson

Biography

Selected Press