Nick Waplington

Bio

Nick Waplington is a distinguished British artist whose creative journey traverses both the UK and the US. Renowned for his innovative approach, Waplington has received prestigious accolades, including the an Photo Award at the Rencontre D’Arles Photo Festival in 1990 and an ICP Infinity Award in 1993. His prominence in the art world was further solidified when he represented the UK at the 2001 Venice Biennale, a hallmark of artistic excellence. Over three decades, Waplington has cultivated a diverse body of work characterized by eclecticism and striking juxtapositions. While he initially garnered attention as a photographer, his artistic practice is multifaceted, encompassing painting, video, computer-generated imagery, sculpture, and the use of found materials. His collaborations span a wide spectrum of creative minds, including Mexican conceptualist Miguel Calderón, artist David Shrigley, writer Irvine Welsh, musicians Tricky and Orbital, film director Paul Thomas Anderson, and the iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Waplington's debut publication, *Living Room* (1991), provided an intimate glimpse into the domestic lives of working-class Britain. Since then, he has authored over ten monographs that delve into a variety of themes, such as globalization in *Other Edens* (1993), youth culture in *Safety in Numbers* (1995), and personal narratives in *You Love Life* (2005) and *Made Glorious Summer* (2014). His recent works include *Anaglypta* (2020), featuring 520 previously unpublished photographs captured over four decades and three continents; *Hackney Riviera* (2019), which portrays resilience and community amidst the upheaval of Brexit; and *Settlement* (2012), exploring the lives of Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Additionally, *We Live As We Dream, Alone* (2015) confronts the poignant history of Nazi prisoners of war in Britain. Waplington's work has been exhibited extensively in prominent galleries and museums worldwide, including recent group exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, Tate Modern, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Notably, in 2015, he made history as the first living British artist to hold a solo photographic exhibition in the main galleries of Tate Britain, London, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. Through his compelling visual narratives, Waplington continues to challenge and expand the boundaries of contemporary art.