Coronavirus COVID-19

This model of Coronavirus – COVID-19 was commissioned 8 weeks before the pandemic by a university in America to reflect their current and future research, and its focus on solving global challenges.

Luke says: “This artwork is a tribute to the scientists and medical teams who are working collaboratively across the world to try to slow the spread of the virus. It is vital we attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus by working together globally, so our health services can manage this pandemic.”

 “Helping to communicate the form of the virus to the public, the artwork has been created as an alternative representation to the artificially coloured imagery received through the media. In fact, viruses have no colour as they are smaller than the wavelength of light.”

Made through a process of scientific glassblowing, the coronavirus model is based on the latest scientific understanding and diagrams of the virus.

Made in glass, at 23cm in diameter, it is approximately 2 million times larger than the actual virus.

All money from this glass model are going to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who will be assisting developing countries deal with the fallout of the corona virus epidemic.

Gaia on Tour

Gaia is now on tour to multiple venues around the world. The artwork was recently presented in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral for River Festival Liverpool and had over 200,000 visitors in just one month!

This new touring artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet, floating in three-dimensions and aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987.

The slowly turning sculpture is presented with a specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award winning Composer Dan Jones. The artwork also acts as a venue for related events to take place beneath the Earth.

Find out more here

Palm Temple

The Palm Temple is an artwork commissioned by Sky Arts in Italy and has just been presented in Lewis Cubitt Square, Coal Drops Yard, London.

In September 2019, Luke Jerram was approached by the production company 3D Produzioni in Milan about making an artwork inspired by Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence. Incorporating the Extinction Bell, the pavilion was presented in London for the public to explore and pass through.

#palmtemple

Find out more.

Museum of the Moon: On Tour

Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by Luke Jerram that is being presented at a number of different arts, science and cultural venues over the coming years. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition.

The artwork has recently been presented at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, toured five cities of India with the British Council and been presented in Aarhus, Denmark for the European Capital of Culture.

An edition of this work is currently on display at the Natural History Museum in London and with over 1 million visitors in just 3 months, has become their most popular exhibition!

Listen to this 30 minute BBC Radio4 programme about the artwork.

In 2019 Luke Jerram was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

Bread Poetry

Initiated by Luke Jerram Bread Poetry is a collaboration between the artist, poets from around the UK and Hobbs House Bakery

Each Saturday, a different poem is being baked onto at least 200 loaves of Wild White bread and sold to the public through five bakeries across the west country.

The poetry is printed onto a small sheet of edible rice paper and baked onto the underside of each white loaf. Each Saturday the ‘Poet of the Week’ is being celebrated and for the same price as their standard loaf, the public are able to purchase, read, share, contemplate and digest this unique artwork.

Bread Poetry combines Luke Jerram’s interest in giving people the opportunity for creative expression, and bringing people together – on this occasion, around the simple act of sharing bread and poetry.

The Bread Poetry is available from five bakeries each Saturday.

Mars

This sculpture of Mars has recently been commissioned by Kunsthale KAde in Holland for a group exhibition.

The artwork offers the chance for the public to study the surface of the planet up close and in three dimensions. Created from high resolution NASA data, at 6m in diameter the Mars artwork is 1.1million times smaller than the actual planet. Each cm of the sculpture describes 11km on the surface of Mars.

Like Luke Jerram’s other artworks the Museum of the Moon and Gaia, this new Mars artwork is designed to tour and be presented in a range of different contexts and cultures. Over the coming months Luke will be researching humanities historical relationship with Mars, drawing out the stories, myths and beliefs which he hopes to present back to the public.

New Book 'Luke Jerram: Art, Science & Play'

Luke Jerram: Art, Science & Play provides a fascinating insight into the evolving practice of international artist Luke Jerram. With over fifty colour photographs and two specially commissioned texts by Ken Arnold (Wellcome Collection) and Mark Ball (Manchester International Festival) the publication delves into the mind of an artist known for his imaginative ability to combine art, science and play, showing us that (in his own words) “anything is possible.”

BUY THE BOOK NOW through Sansom & Co  (£15)

Extinction Bell

The Extinction Bell tolls once, 150-200 times a day, at random intervals, indicating the number of species lost worldwide every 24 hours.

The Extinction Bell artwork will tour, to be presented in a number of different venues and contexts, including museums of natural history, botanic gardens and zoos. The artwork will be used to raise awareness of the issue of biodiversity loss, and alter the way audiences view existing collections and exhibits within these institutions.

The artwork has just been presented at Bristol Zoo Gardens. Listen to an interview with Luke about this artwork on BBC Radio4 Front Row.

Luke sets up Bristol Schools Arts Fund.

Due to cuts through austerity, many schools in the UK can’t afford basic art materials for their students. Research shows that more than 80% of schools will have less funding per pupil in real terms in 2020 than they did in 2015. The BBC says that creative arts subjects are being cut back in many secondary schools in England.

Initiated and funded by Luke Jerram The Bristol School Arts Fund will offer funding to fine arts departments of secondary schools in Bristol. The money can be spent on materials, annual arts awards for students, school trips, artist in residents, after school art clubs etc. The seven schools awarded in 2020 are:

Ashton Park School
Bristol Cathedral Choir School
City Academy Bristol
Fairfield High School
Oasis Academy Brightstowe
Oasis Academy Brislington
Mercants’ Academy

Find out more here

An Introduction to Luke's practice

A two minute showreel of projects narrated by the artist.

Play Me, I'm Yours

Play Me, I’m Yours is an installation of street pianos which are located in cities across the world. The pianos are available for any member of the public to play and enjoy. By creating a place of exchange Play Me, I’m Yours invites the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment.

Reaching millions of people worldwide, more than 2000 street pianos have been installed  in over 70 cities across the globe, from London to New York, bearing the simple instruction to ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’.

For more information see the Play Me, I’m Yours website.

Apollo - Sound Sculpture

Working with the music of Philip Glass, this new artwork was created to help fundraise towards St George’s Bristol capital appeal.

The artwork was made by taking wave form of the first 10 seconds Philip Glass music Philip Glass’ Etude No 2 and rotating it about its axis. The music is especially fitting as Philip performed it at his first visit to St George’s in 2013. The sound-wave sculpture, entitled Apollo (for the Greek God of music), consists of approximately 80 hand-blown coloured glass roundels fused together.

After funding to design and produce the sculpture was secured, individuals and companies sponsored each glass roundel to raise money for the building. Over £600,000 was raised through the Apollo artwork towards St George’s £5.5m capital appeal.

Glass Microbiology

Made to contemplate the global impact of the disease, the Glass Microbiology sculptures were created as an alternative representation to the artificially coloured imagery of viruses received through the media.

Luke Jerram’s Glass Microbiology sculptures are in private collections around the world. Museum collections include The Metropolitan Museum NYC, The Corning Museum, The Wellcome Collection, London. Find out more about Glass Microbiology here.

Bloomberg Television Documentary

This brilliant 25 minute documentary describes Luke Jerram’s arts practice and interviews some of his recent collaborators. Filmed by Northern Town Media, Brilliant Ideas looks at the most exciting and acclaimed artists at work in the world today. Artists in the series include Grayson Perry, Cornelia Parker and Anish Kapoor.