Dryden Goodwin

Dryden Goodwin is Professor of Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, where he mentors BA/BFA, MA/MFA and PhD students. His practice spans drawing, film, installation, photography, and sound, creating works for galleries, museums, public spaces, and online platforms.

Goodwin's research centers on close observation of individuals and overlooked subjects, exploring expanded notions of portraiture that delve beyond physical surfaces to reveal emotional and psychological structures. His work examines the ethical dimensions of looking, the boundaries between anonymity and intimacy, and how observation enriches our understanding of human nature. Recent projects investigate how portraiture fails to fully capture subjects, prompting exploration of alternative representational approaches that activate viewers' imaginations through what is implied rather than shown.

His acclaimed feature film Unseen: The Lives of Looking (2015) received nominations at major international festivals including Camerimage (2016) and CPH:DOX (2015). Significant commissions include Those Who Seek My Help (2018) for New Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm and Seeing Hand (2017), a site-specific work created during residencies in Shanghai. His work appears in major collections including MoMA, Tate, and the National Portrait Gallery.

• Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at Camerimage Film Festival (2016)
• Nominated for DOX:AWARD at CPH:DOX International Documentary Festival (2015)
• First Prize in The Big Smoke competition of Krafta Doc International Film Festival (2017)

Goodwin has created numerous public art projects including Linear for Art on the Underground (2010-2012), Breathe projected opposite the Houses of Parliament (2012), and Wander, a permanent installation in Cambridge (2014). His practice consistently bridges artistic creation with social engagement, often developing through conversations and intimate exchanges with subjects ranging from strangers to specialized professional groups.