About the artist

Luke & Getvulnerable is a Johannesburg-based artist working in the medium of photography. Luke’s journey into photography began with studies in Marketing in 2016 at Boston City Campus and Business College, Rosebank.

He finally took advice in 2018 to give up Marketing and study something creative. The decision to switch majors came after a back-and-forth conversation with his mentor about doing what makes him come alive. “Initially, dropping out of Marketing felt like siding with failure. However, the vivid shoot ideas that were roaming my mind cemented my leap of faith. ”

In 2020-2021, Luke completed both the Intermediate Course and the Advanced Programme in Photography at Market Photo Workshop MPW graduating top of his class.  Luke has been featured in ‘Seen Through These Eyes’, a mini docu-series produced by the Market Theatre. This mini docu-series explores the unquestionable human spirit of young black men and is inspired by ‘Pass Over’, written by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by James Ngcobo.

Fstop Club shortlisted Luke for their prestigious Edition 4 - 5 zine workshop in 2021. In addition to student group exhibitions, Luke has also been featured in Lenscratch’s Favourite Photo of 2021 and Through The Lens Collective’s Portrait Show 2021. 

2022 got off to a good start with Luke commencing a Studio Assistantship with accomplished artist Phumulani Ntuli of Bag Factory Artist Studios and being shortlisted for the MPW Media and Advocacy Photography Mentorship (top 5). 

The artist attempts to enthral the audience through personal yet universal narratives of loss, redemption and all the gorgeous, gloomy details in between. “ I’ve always had the idea of photographing an orphan adopted into a new home and welcomed with a feast set for kings. Overwhelmed with emotion, the little boy attempts to take it all in... I later realised that I am the little boy in search of home.”

“ My practice is centred around the concept of home [ a proxy for the original design ]  and its intangible make-up, such as love, presence and more I’m yet to discover ”