Luke Fowler
Luke Fowler (born 1978) is an artist, 16mm filmmaker and musician based in Glasgow. Fowler was a fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute in 2015–2016
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 Luke Fowler photographed in 2015 by Alan Dimmick | |
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| Website | luke-fowler.com |
Luke Fowler (born 1978) is an artist, 16mm filmmaker and musician based in Glasgow.[1] Fowler was a fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute in 2015–2016[2]
Work
[edit]Fowler studied printmaking at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design[3] in Dundee. His work explores the limits and conventions of biographical and documentary film-making[4] with an emphasis on sound, marginalised communities and radical voices. Fowler is represented by The Modern Institute (Glasgow), Galerie Gisela Capitain (Cologne), and Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo).[5]
Film work
[edit]He creates cinematic collages that have often been linked to the British Free Cinema movement of the 1950s,[6] as well as traditions within American and British experimental cinema. He has collaborated or been in dialogue with the filmmakers: Lis Rhodes,[7] Cerith Wyn Evans,[8] Peter Todd,[9] William Raban,[10] Robert Beavers,[11] and Peter Hutton.[12] His para-documentary films have explored counter cultural figures including Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing,[13] English composer Cornelius Cardew,[14] Marxist-Historian E. P. Thompson and Scottish film-poet Margaret Tait (Being in a place).[15] In 2018, Fowler created Mum’s Cards, a short 16 mm film exploring the archival index cards accumulated by his mother, sociologist Bridget Fowler, reflecting on memory, intellectual life, and the material traces of knowledge.[16] In 2022, Fowler directed Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait, an experimental documentary drawing on archival footage, recordings, notebooks, and correspondence to explore the life, work, and poetic approach to cinema of Scottish filmmaker and poet Margaret Tait, with attention to her relationship to the Orkney landscape. The film premiered in the Forum section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.[17]
Films on Sound and installations
[edit]Fowler’s work frequently engages with sound, the politics of music, and the communities in which music is produced and circulated. This interest is evident in his portraits of musicians and composers including Brunhild Ferrari, Patrick Cowley, Christian Wolff, and Martin Bartlett,[18][19] as well as in films and installations that address place (The Room, Being Blue, Enceindre, Tenement Films, On Weaving) and acoustic phenomena (Ridges on the Horizontal Plane and Composition for Flutter Screen, both made in collaboration with Toshiya Tsunoda[20]).[21]
Musical projects
[edit]Fowler formed the duo Lied Music with John W. Fail, performing live music concrete[22] The duo collaborated and performed live with Mark Vernon and Barry Burns, releasing two LPs.[23][24][25] Since 2010, he has collaborated regularly with Richard Youngs,[26] resulting in the box set Research Musics En-Of 50 and the avant-disco group AMOR, which released two 12″ records, an LP, and an EP on Nightschool Records.[27][28]
Collaborations
[edit]Fowler has worked with a number of collaborators, including Sue Tompkins (Be Dear Crazy Loud, 2003; Country Grammar, 2017),[29] David Grubbs (J’ai pensé sans parole),[30] Ryoko Akama (installation and performance at Hamburg papiripar festival 2025),[27] David Toop,[31] Lionel Marchetti (soundtracks for Being In A Place 2022 and No Interior 2023),[32] Corin Sworn (On Weaving, 2025),[33] Margaret Salmon (To The Editor…, 2014),[34] Marcus Schmickler,[35] Eric La Casa,[36] George Clark and Peter Hutton,[37] Mark Fell,[38] Lee Patterson,[39] Toshiya Tsunoda,[40] and Richard Youngs.[41] He collaborated with guitarist Keith Rowe and film maker and curator Peter Todd on the live sound and film work The Room.[42]
Partial filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | On Weaving | 26 minutes |
| 2024 | Being Blue | 18 minutes |
| 2023 | N’importe Quoi | 9 minutes |
| 2022 | Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait | 61 minutes |
| 2021 | For Dan | 12 minutes |
| 2020 | Patrick | 21 minutes |
| 2019 | Cézanne | 6 minutes |
| 2018 | Mum’s Cards | 9 minutes |
| 2017 | Electro-Pythagoras (a portrait of Martin Bartlett) | 45 minutes |
| 2016 | For Christian | 6 minutes |
| 2014 | To The Editor Of Amateur Photographer | 68 minutes |
| 2012 | The Poor Stockinger, the Luddite Cropper and
the Deluded Followers of Joanna Southcott |
61 minutes |
| 2011 | All Divided Selves | 93 minutes |
| 2006 | Pilgrimage from Scattered Points | 44 minutes |
Selected exhibitions
[edit]Solo
[edit]- 2022: Being in a Place, The Modern Institute, 3 Aird's Lane, Glasgow[44]
- 2021: From Here a Home Was Imagined, CCA, Glasgow[45]
- 2021: A Certain Predilection for Things Out of the Ordinary, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid[19]
- 2019: Passages, Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington[46]
- 2018: Sightings: Luke Fowler, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas[47]
- 2017: Gone Reflections, Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore[48]
- 2015: Outside The Sound, Harvard Film Archive, Cambridge[49]
- 2013: Common Sense, La Casa Encendida, Madrid[50]
- 2011: Luke Fowler, Hessel Museum of Art, Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York[51]
- 2010: No 5, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen[18]
- 2009: retrospective exhibition, Serpentine Gallery[52]
- 2006: The Nine Monads Of David Bell, Villa Concordia, Bamberg[53]
Group
[edit]- 2023: Luke Fowler (SCOT) & Kasper Akhøj (DK), Stereo Exchange, Frederiksberg[54]
- 2022: Citational Choices, La Trobe Art Institute, Bendigo[18]
- 2020: Miraculous Noise, Viborg Kunsthal, Viborg[18]
- 2018: Wilderness, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt[55]
- 2011: British Art Show 7, Hayward Gallery, London[56]
- 2012: he was shortlisted for the Turner Prize, for solo exhibition at Inverleith House in Edinburgh,[57] which showcased his new film exploring the life and work of Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing.[6]
Awards
[edit]- 2023: La Scam International Award, Cinéma du Réel, Paris[58][59]
- 2019: Glasgow Short Film Festival Award for Best Film – Mum’s Cards[60]
- 2012: Turner Prize, shortlisted[61]
- 2010: Paul Hamlyn Award[62]
- 2010: Donald Dewar Arts award[62]
- 2010: Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award[63]
- 2008: Derek Jarman Award[64]
- 2004: Shortlisted for the 2005 Beck's Futures prize[65]
References
[edit]- ^ Luke Fowler interview: Up close and personal - Scotland on Sunday Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Scottish Arts Council - Exeptional [sic] young Scots given a financial boost Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Scottisharts.org.uk (2010-07-01). Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". www.nationalgalleries.org. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Luke FOWLER". Taka Ishii Gallery / タカ・イシイギャラリー. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Turner Prize: 2012 shortlist announced". BBC News, 1 May 2012. BBC. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "Conversation". Harvard Film Archive. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "N'Importe Quoi (for Brunhild) and other works by Luke Fowler with Brunhild Ferrari and Cerith Wyn Evans". Galerie Gisela Capitain (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Peter Todd". LUX. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Performance to Camera". www.cinemateket.no (in Norwegian). 22 February 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Robert Beavers screening in conversation with Luke Fowler". CCA Glasgow. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Lived Experience: Luke Fowler and Peter Hutton — Mousse Magazine and Publishing". www.moussemagazine.it. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Tribute exhibition to psychiatrist RD Laing - Times Online". entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ Hudson, Mark. (2009-05-13) Luke Fowler: stories upside down and inside out. Telegraph. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ "Luke Fowler - Being in a Place: A Portrait of Margaret Tait". Pier Arts Centre. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Mum's Cards | Viennale". www.viennale.at. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "About Luke Fowler". The Modern Institute. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b "A certain predilection for things out of the ordinary: The films of Luke Fowler". DocumentaMadrid. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "SOUNDINGS". www.moma.org. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Electro-Pythagorus' Review: An Experimental Look at an Innovator". 29 November 2018.
- ^ Mark (13 February 2018). "Vernon & Burns meet Lied Music: Lost Lake". Mark Vernon. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Vernon & Burns". Mark Vernon. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "vb-recordings". Mark Vernon. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Counterflows Luke Fowler / Mika Vainio / Lee Patterson". CCA Glasgow. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler and Richard Youngs | ZKM". zkm.de. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b Venker, Thomas. "Ryoko Akama: "Capitalism destroys coordination and I am not sure how we can re-coordinate ourselves into a system that works"". Kaput Mag. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". Discogs. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Sharratt, Chris (19 December 2017). "Luke Fowler and Sue Tompkins". Frieze. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Scotney, Sebastian (30 March 2025). "Luke Fowler and David Grubbs + new work from Brunhild Ferrari - UK Jazz News". Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Thinking Culture". thinkingculture.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "ON WEAVING". alchemyfilmandarts.org.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Artist in focus: Luke Fowler | Courtisane". www.courtisane.be. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler & Marcus Schmickler "Performance for Synthesis and Organic Oscillators"". Taka Ishii Gallery / タカ・イシイギャラリー. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "A Grammar For Listening - Part 2". LUX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "The Poor Stockinger, the Luddite Cropper and the Deluded Followers of Joanna Southcott". LUX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "To The Editor Of Amateur Photographer". LUX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "A Grammar For Listening - Part 1". LUX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "A Grammar For Listening - Part 3". LUX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Shop - Research Music - The Modern Institute". www.themoderninstitute.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "About Luke Fowler - The Modern Institute". www.themoderninstitute.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". LUX. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Being in a Place, 2022, The Modern Institute, 3 Aird's Lane, Glasgow - Luke Fowler". The Modern Institute. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler, Black Obsidian Sound System & Martha Adonai Williams". CCA Glasgow. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Passages: Luke Fowler, Florian Hecker, Susan Philipsz - Announcements". e-flux. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Sightings: Luke Fowler May 12, 2018 - August 19, 2018 | Exhibition - Nasher Sculpture Center". www.nashersculpturecenter.org. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Gone Reflections, 2017, Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore - Luke Fowler". The Modern Institute. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Outside the Sound, the Films of Luke Fowler". Harvard Film Archive. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Encendida, La Casa. "Luke Fowler Common Sense". La Casa Encendida. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". CCS Bard. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Luke Fowler, Serpentine Gallery, London - Reviews, Art. The Independent (2009-05-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ "Ausstellungen 2006 Internationales Künstlerhaus Villa Concordia". www.kunst-und-kultur.de. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Luke Fowler (SCOT) + Kasper Akhøj (DK) — Stereo Exchange". stereoexchange.dk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Wilderness - Announcements". e-flux. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "British Art Show 7: In the Days of the Comet at Hayward Gallery London - Artmap.com". artmap.com. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Inverleith House Luke Fowler, Turner Prize nomination 2012". Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "Luke Fowler". Outer Spaces. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "BEING IN A PLACE: A PORTRAIT OF MARGARET TAIT". Cinéma du réel Archives. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ GSFF (18 March 2019). "Award-winners announced for Glasgow Short Film Festival 2019". Glasgow Short Film Festival. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Turner Prize: 2012 shortlist announced". BBC News. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ a b Sykes, Alan (21 June 2012). "Hepworth Wakefield scores with Luke Fowler". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ Luke Fowler Archived 2011-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ Art review: Luke Fowler, Serpentine Gallery, London W2 | Art and design | The Observer. Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ^ "Star Wars inspires art shortlist". BBC News Entertainment and Arts, Friday, 17 December 2004. BBC. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
External links
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