Born in Hobart in 1962, Luke Wagner is an artist that follows his heart. After initially embarking on a science-based career in the early 1980s, a mix of planned and serendipitous events led to him becoming immersed in the art world. Captivated by his new-found career, Wagner has developed a unique style that reflects the universal, whilst capturing the essence of Tasmania’s haunting landscapes. It incorporates timeless Arcadian moods, imbued with classical echoes that entice the viewer to explore.

Although Wagner is renowned for his surreal and stylised landscapes, his work often integrates figurative and still life genres that provide a catalyst to convey his intent. Luke gets much of his inspiration from his beloved Tasmanian landscape, where he spends many hours absorbing its nuances and power. He then returns to the tranquillity of his peaceful bushland studio near Hobart to create works that are filtered through his memory.

Working intuitively, he reorders what he has seen and experienced into his own perceptive and thought-provoking visual language. Luke Wagner has won numerous awards and his work continues to grow in popularity. Since his first sell-out exhibition in 1994, he has held a further 24 successful exhibitions in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. A self-taught painter, Luke has allowed his individualistic and personal approach to his work to flourish. He continues to explore many themes and ideas and says that his intent is ‘to make meaningful and worthwhile art that engages the viewer in a poetic and honest way’.

 

SHOWS & PRIZES

 

2022 The Space Between – Libby Edwards Galleries Melbourne

2020 Ithaka – Journeys to Islands after Constantine Cavafy  Colville Gallery Hobart

2019 Earthly Immortalities  Colville Gallery Hobart

2018 On the Island paintings from Tasman Island residency Colville Gallery Hobart

2017 In his sleep paintings with James McAuley Poems ColvilleGallery Hobart

2017 Small Worlds Colville Gallery, Hobart

2016 Under my breath( paintings from the Domain) Colville Gallery, Hobart

2015 Wonderland , Colville Gallery , Hobart

2014 Visage Colville Gallery , Hobart

2013 I wait by the sea , Colville Gallery , Hobart

2013 Studio , prints and paintings , Frogmore Cellar Door , Hobart

2012 My Ground , Colville Gallery, Hobart

2012 Frontier , Soho Gallery , Sydney

2011 Nightset , Colville Gallery , Hobart

2011 Savour , Henry Jones Art Hotel , Hobart

2010 This Waking Life , Colville Gallery , Hobart

2009 Surface , Cube Gallery , Hobart

2009 Incarnation , Salamanca Collection ,Hobart

2008 Between the Lines , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2008 Home Before Dark , Libby Edwards Gallery , Sydney

2007 Time and again , Libby Edwards Gallery , Melbourne

2007 Still Life , Libby Edwards Gallery , Brisbane

2006 From the Inside Out , Libby Edwards Gallery , Sydney

2006 Telling Stories , Salamanca Gallery , Hobart

2005 Somewhere to be , Libby Edwards Gallery , Melbourne

2005 A Sense of Place , Crown Casino , Melbourne

2005 Time and Truth , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2005 Some of the time , Libby Edwards Gallery , Brisbane

2004 Summer Paintings , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2004 Second Sight , Brian Moore Gallery , Sydney

2004 Looking for Patterns , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2003 Essence , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2002 Harvest ,Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2002 Recent Paintings , Brian Moore Gallery , Sydney

2001 Earthly Intrigue , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2000 Indelible , Salamanca Collection , Hobart

2000 Paintings , Jill Richards Gallery , Sydney

1999 Still Salamanca Collection , Hobart

1997 Shadow and Identity ,Sidewalk Gallery , Hobart

1997 Sense and Memory , Wadi Gallery , Sydney

1996 Emblem ,Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston

1995 Thinking Outside the Square , Sidewalk Gallery , Hobart

1994 A Richness of Purpose , Sidewalk Gallery ,Hobart.

 

Group and Prize Exhibitions

2020 Glover Prize finalist

2017 Glover Prize finalist

2017 Tattersalls Prize finalist

2017 Hadleys Prize finalist

2016 Tattersalls Art Prize, Brisbane, finalist

2015 Tattersalls Art Prize, Brisbane Finalist

2013 Tattersalls Art Prize , Brisbane , Finalist

2013 Glover Prize Finalist

2012 Mosman Art Prize ,Sydney , Finalist

2012 Tattersalls Art Prize , Brisbane , Finalist

2011 Tattersalls Art Prize , Brisbane ,Finalist

2010 Tattersalls Art prize , Brisbane , Finalist

2007 Glover Prize , Evandale , Finalist

2005 Tattersalls Art Prize , Brisbane -Finalist

Prizes

2015  Judges Commendation Tattersalls Prize Brisbane

1999 Central Highlands Art Award winner, Tasmania

1996 Circular Head (Island Art Prize) winner, Tasmania

 

Collections

State Government of Tasmania

Government House ,Tasmania

Royal Tennis Club Hobart

State Library of Tasmania

Devonport Regional Gallery

Central Highlands Council Collection