Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Luke Smythe is Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. Prior to commencing at Monash, he taught art history at Otago University and Wesleyan University. From 2013-2014, he worked as a Curatorial Fellow in Postwar Art at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.
His historical specialty is modern art from the postwar period until today with at present a particular focus on three subjects: West German art, the passage of analogue media into the digital era, and New Zealand modernism. His articles and essays, addressing these and other topics, have appeared in many journals and catalogues, among which are October, Modernism/modernity, the Art Journal (U.S.), and Oxford Art Journal. He is the author of two monographs: Gerhard Richter. Freedom and Individualism in West Germany (Routledge, 2022), and Gretchen Albrecht: Between Gesture and Geometry (Massey University Press, 2019, revised and expanded 2nd edition, 2023).
In addition to his research and writing, he has worked on exhibitions at a number of museums and galleries, including the Chinati Foundation, Yale University Art Gallery and the Pinakothek der Moderne.
His work has been supported by the DAAD, the Fulbright Foundation, the Yale Centre for British Art, the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Creative New Zealand, and the Anna Polke-Stiftung.
Education/Academic qualification
Art History, PhD, Gerhard Richter: Lightness and Loss, Yale University
Award Date: 12 Jun 2012
Curatorial Studies, MA, Len Lye: The Vital Body of Cinema, Columbia University
Award Date: 8 Feb 2006
Research area keywords
- Modern and contemporary art
Projects
- 2 Finished
-
‘damit Du mitfliessen kannst’: Sigmar Polke and material art history
Anna Polke-Stiftung (Anna Polke Foundation)
20/10/22 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
-
Gretchen Albrecht: between gesture and geometry
Smythe, L., 2023, 2 ed. Auckland NZ: Massey University. 328 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Other › peer-review
-
Becoming Absorbed in Sapphire Blue: Abstract Painting’s Political Agency and the Feeling of Aesthetic Release
Smythe, L., 2022, The Dialogics of Contemporary Art: Painting Politics. Ingram, S., Minissale, G., Vercoe, C. & Wynne-Jones, V. (eds.). Bielefeld Germany: Kerber, p. 230-241 12 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
-
Beuys in Multiple: The Esoteric Populist
Smythe, L., 2022, Melbourne, Vic, Australia: 99%. 1 p.Research output: Book/Report › Catalogue › Research
Open Access -
Gerhard Richter, Individualism, and Belonging in West Germany
Smythe, L., 2022, New York NY USA: Routledge. 202 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
-
Light Within: Gretchen Albrecht's Illuminations
Smythe, L., 2022, Christchurch NZ: NMG. 5 p.Research output: Book/Report › Catalogue › Research
Prizes
-
Dean's Award for Research Excellence by an Early Career Researcher
Smythe, Luke (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Exceptional Achievement Award
Smythe, Luke (Recipient), 19 Mar 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
-
University of Minnesota Press (Publisher)
Luke Smythe (Editor in chief)
9 Jan 2025Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
-
PhD Thesis Examination - University of Melbourne
Luke Smythe (Examiner)
16 Jan 2024Activity: Examination types › Thesis Examination
-
Post-digitale Malerei. re:vise revolution [Post-digital Painting. re:vise revolution]
Luke Smythe (Invited speaker)
19 Jul 2024 → 20 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
-
Routledge (Publisher)
Luke Smythe (Peer reviewer)
14 Jun 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
-
Chinati Foundation Intern Mentor
Luke Smythe (Speaker)
24 Feb 2023 → 24 Feb 2028Activity: Other Teaching Engagements and non-HDR Supervisions › Mentor/ Internship supervision
Press/Media
-
-
Australian Academy of the Humanities -- Ernst & Rosemarie Keller Fund
17/04/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Social Media Mentions
-
-
Catharina van Bohemen with Gretchen Albrecht-- Gretchen Albrecht: Between Gesture and Geometry
20/02/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
'Gretchen Albrecht: Between Gesture and Geometry' by Luke Smythe
6/12/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Review