معرفی
Greg Lookerse serves as an Assistant Professor of Art at Hope College, where he teaches Basic Design, Design 2, and Time Based Art while mentoring students in independent projects. His academic journey includes an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (2014) and a BFA from Biola University (2005), with his artistic practice deeply informed by his initial consideration of ministry before discovering how art provides fertile ground for exploring big ideas through small-scale creation.
Lookerse's research interests center on the intersection of art and spirituality, particularly how creative practice can facilitate connection with the divine. His mixed media drawings, installations, and performances systematically question the nature of sacred objects through dissection, rearrangement, and transformation. Working across diverse materials including imitation gold leaf, tar paper, translucent papers, and organic elements, he creates ritualistic works that explore religious themes through material interventions and conceptual frameworks. His practice often incorporates interdisciplinary collaborations, as evidenced by the 2019 'Toward Convergence' performance integrating jazz music, poetry, dance, and visual art.
His recent artistic output demonstrates consistent production through 2023-2024, with works exploring spiritual themes through material transformation. The 2023 series 'Object Illuminated Signs' features cardboard signs gilded with imitation gold leaf, while 'Circling Corvids' presents birds collaged from art historical references on tar paper. His 'Flood Gate' installation creates a forty-two-foot-wide gilded screen depicting ships at sea during storms, and 'Soluble Stones' layers ink drawings of stones on translucent paper with cheesecloth veils.
Lookerse's recognition includes significant awards and grants:
- "Forging Ahead," Nyenhuis Research Grant, Hope College (2022)
- "Art Can Help Faith," Vital Worship Grant, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (2021)
- Portal to the World Research Group Grant, American University in Paris (2020)
- Featured in "10 Contemporary Artists to Watch," invaluable.com (2016)
- Emerging Artist Award, St. Botolph Club Foundation (2016)
- Traveling Fellowship, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2016)
- T. Chan Sculpture Award, School of the Museum of Fine Arts (2014)
As both educator and practitioner, Lookerse maintains an active exhibition record with works shown internationally, including group exhibitions at Bridge Projects (Santa Monica), Elevator Gallery at Hope College, Montserrat College, Assisi International Contemporary Art Exhibition, and A R E A Gallery. His artistic practice extends beyond visual works to include literary output, notably his 2021 novel 'Notes from Underwater,' which blends narrative with over 180 drawings. His creative process often incorporates ritual elements, as seen in performances like 'Teaching a Stone to Talk' and 'Breaking Five Loaves of Bread into 5000 Pieces,' reflecting his ongoing exploration of art's capacity to engage with spiritual themes through material transformation.
