Ty Locke's work blends accessibility, wit and sexuality to respond to his position in the world. He is interested in transforming mundane objects into sculptures imbued with personality and tension, often through labour-intensive means.
Locke's recent work deals with his upbringing in Kent, growing up queer as one of 7 siblings in a lower working-class family. Using cheap domestic items such as plastic stools, cigarette papers, or kitchen knives drawn from his childhood, Locke reinvents their purpose and function to engage in broader social commentaries around class and sexuality. The strenuous and meticulous process of working with such materials becomes therapeutic, meditative, and a way of making sense of the world. In these deeply personal sculptures, the initially humorous presentation gives way to the emotional depth of the topics explored, revealing jarring juxtapositions.
His work has been presented internationally including at Turner Contemporary, Margate (UK); Matt's Gallery, London (UK); National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia (USA); Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University (UK); Material, Mexico City (Mexico); LAM Museum, Lisse (Netherlands); MAD Museum, Brussels (Belgium); Quench, Margate; MOCA London (UK); Commune, Vienna (Austria); Copperfield, London (UK). He was a resident at Studio Bloc M74, Mexico, supported by Knotenpunkt.
His work is held in the collections of Cloud Seven, Brussels; POC collection, Brussels; LAM Museum, Lisse; Crab Museum, Margate; Ingar Dragset, Norway; Maarten Baas, Netherlands; S. Davíðsdóttir, UK; Thomas/de Prez collection, UK; Mauro Mattei Art Trust, UK; Isabel and Agustín Coppel collection, Mexico.
For his most recent solo exhibition with the gallery, please click here.
For his most recent group exhibition with the gallery, please click here.
Locke's recent work deals with his upbringing in Kent, growing up queer as one of 7 siblings in a lower working-class family. Using cheap domestic items such as plastic stools, cigarette papers, or kitchen knives drawn from his childhood, Locke reinvents their purpose and function to engage in broader social commentaries around class and sexuality. The strenuous and meticulous process of working with such materials becomes therapeutic, meditative, and a way of making sense of the world. In these deeply personal sculptures, the initially humorous presentation gives way to the emotional depth of the topics explored, revealing jarring juxtapositions.
His work has been presented internationally including at Turner Contemporary, Margate (UK); Matt's Gallery, London (UK); National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia (USA); Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University (UK); Material, Mexico City (Mexico); LAM Museum, Lisse (Netherlands); MAD Museum, Brussels (Belgium); Quench, Margate; MOCA London (UK); Commune, Vienna (Austria); Copperfield, London (UK). He was a resident at Studio Bloc M74, Mexico, supported by Knotenpunkt.
His work is held in the collections of Cloud Seven, Brussels; POC collection, Brussels; LAM Museum, Lisse; Crab Museum, Margate; Ingar Dragset, Norway; Maarten Baas, Netherlands; S. Davíðsdóttir, UK; Thomas/de Prez collection, UK; Mauro Mattei Art Trust, UK; Isabel and Agustín Coppel collection, Mexico.
For his most recent solo exhibition with the gallery, please click here.
For his most recent group exhibition with the gallery, please click here.
Obnoxus Cabanara, 2024. Altered biro pens. 25 x 46 x 3 cm.
Floppy embrace, 2025. Brooms, wire. 104 x 36 x 15 cm.
Nan, 2024. Cabinet with hand etched glass, containing hand etched pint glasses. Life size.
Nan, detail.
Horny Chair Presenting, 2022. Steel chair, paint. Life size.
Horny Chair Waiting, 2022. Steel chair, paint. Life size.
Knives rack, 2024. 10 modified kitchen knives. 21 x 150 cm. Collection of the LAM Museum, Netherlands.
Floppy Kitchen Knife, 2023. Knife and silver-plated wire, 25 x 7.5 x 3 cm.
Pietà , 2024. Plastic chairs. Life size.
Disco Chair , 2024. Plastic garden chair, 50,000+ mirror squares, adhesive, chain, mechanism. Life size.
On The Lash, 2023. Fake Leather Shoes, Fake Eyelashes. 32 x 34 x 9 cm.
Dad Fridge, 2022. Second hand fridge freezer, fridge magnets, paper. 183 x 54 x 60 cm.
Dad Fridge, detail.
Tasseled Lamp, 2023. Lamp, 310 meters of gold tassel. 80 x 4 x 38 cm.
Tasseled Lamp, detail
Touch Wood, 2024. Wood and velvet. 31 x 36 x 39 cm.
Touch Wood, detail
Same Shit Diff Day, 2022.
Cigarette filters, nylon thread, plywood. 220 x 93 x 1 cm.
Same Shit Diff Day, detail.
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