Ty Locke
1996, Maidstone, UK.
Lives and works in London, UK.
Ty Locke’s work draws inspiration from a multitude of sources, responding to his position in the world. All of Ty’s work blends both accessibility and humour with formal presentation and often explores deeper social commentary.
As a queer artist and practising drag queen, Ty’s work often reflects his experiences in the queer community and the idea of subverting boundaries. He enjoys taking everyday objects and reinventing their position and function to create often labor-intensive sculptures that imbue mundane objects with personality and tension.
Since moving to London to pursue his MFA in sculpture at the Slade, Locke began making work that is more consciously and directly about his upbringing in Kent. As an artist, Ty’s practice is a way of making sense of the world, almost becoming a form of therapy through the process of making. These more personal sculptures carry a weight to them, and their pleasing and humorous presentation is juxtaposed with the emotional depth of the topics they explore.
Recent solo and group projects include: Take a Seat, Bow Arts, London (UK, 2024); Intension (the concept ‘dog’ encapsulates its ‘dogness’), Copperfield, London (UK, 2024) The Physical Trace of Memory, London (UK, 2024); Fragment I, Commune, Vienna (Austria, 2024); Wonderland, FILET, London (2024); Kitchen Sink Drama at Copperfield, London (2023); Amber Room, Matt’s Gallery, London (2023); Unfurnished, Bomb Factory, London (2023).
Locke has recently completed a residency at Studio Block M74, Mexico City, supported by Knotenpunkt. His work is held in the collections of LAM Museum, the Netherlands; Ingar Dragset, Norway; Maarten Baas, the Netherlands; S. Davíðsdóttir, UK.