Liz Looker is an award-winning photographer whose work and exhibitions range from ethereal to commercial, portraiture to experimental, landscape to raw human form. Empathy and authenticity in her approach and process allow her to connect to the essence of her subjects.
Her work, ‘Life Dancers’, won Australia’s National Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in 2016, and she won their Art Handlers’ Award for her portrait ‘A calm so deep’ in 2019. Her works ‘Quickly, before it’s gone’ and ‘Bathe in the Sea and the Sun’ were hung as finalist works in 2020 and 2022.
Liz spent time in Gothenburg, Sweden as an artist-in-residence at KONSTEPIDEMIN ‘Epidemic of Art’, Sweden’s biggest workplace for independent artists. Her photographic project whilst there was inspired and informed by her Swedish ancestor, sculptor Charles Haag, whose acclaimed early 20th century American exhibition, ‘The Spirits of the Woods’, honoured the strength, humility, grace and persistence of humanity in sculpted mahogany, willow and oak. Working collaboratively with international dancers from the GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Liz set out to catch, through her lens, the spirit of her subjects; to connect so as to see beyond the flesh; to capture their energy and essence. During several extraordinary shoots in her Gothenburg studio, conversations took place which took photographer and her subjects on a journey of self-discovery, creating profound, cathartic experiences for both. This work has since been recognised and exhibited both nationally and internationally.
In 2021 Liz completed a project commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, creating works to be exhibited as part of the nationally touring exhibition, Dancer, which will open in 2024 and tour through 2027.
Liz is available worldwide for commissions including campaigns, portraits, weddings, events and artist talks.
Group Exhibitions and Awards
2024 - 2027 DANCER, National Portrait Gallery, nationally touring exhibition
2024 ARTE RICCA, group exhibition, Western Australia
2022 Australian Photography Awards (shortlisted), Sydney, Australia
2022 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women (FINALIST and WINNER, HIGHLY COMMENDED), Melbourne, Victoria
2022 Gala Awards 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Award (EXHIBITED FINALIST AND 6 HONOURABLE MENTIONS), Barcelona
2022 National Photographic Portrait Prize (FINALIST), National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
2021 New York Photography Awards, GOLD WINNER in the Professional Portraits division, NYC, two time SILVER WINNER in the Professional Fine Art Portrait division
2021 Luxembourg Art Prize, Certificate of Artistic Merit, La Pinacothèque Museum, Luxembourg
2021 Australian Photography Awards (FINALIST AND 4 TIMES SEMI FINALIST), Australia
2021 Gala Awards 17th Julia Margaret Cameron Award (WINNER 2ND PLACE, AND 5 HONOURABLE MENTIONS), Barcelona, Spain
2021 International Photography Awards (3 HONOURABLE MENTIONS), L.A, USA
2021 National Portrait Gallery COMMISSIONED to create10 Works for exhibition, Canberra
2021 IRIS Award (FINALIST), Perth, Western Australia
2021 Head On Portrait Prize (FINALIST), Sydney, NSW
2021 Invited as an awardee to exhibit at the 6th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography, Barcelona, Spain
2020 International Photography Awards (HONOURABLE MENTION), NYC, USA
2020 Worldwide Photography Gala Awards 15th Julia Margaret Cameron Award (FINALIST AND HONOURABLE MENTION), Barcelona, Spain
2020 Head On Portrait Prize (SEMI FINALIST), Sydney, New South Wales
2020 National Photographic Portrait Prize (FINALIST), National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
2020 Gala Awards 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Award (EXHIBITED FINALIST AND HONOURABLE MENTION), Barcelona, Spain
2019 Australian Photography Awards (FINALIST, 3RD PLACE, PORTRAITURE), Melbourne, Victoria
2019 International Photography Awards (HONOURABLE MENTION), NYC, USA
2019 Fremantle International Portrait Prize (FINALIST), Fremantle, Western Australia
2019 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women (FINALIST), Melbourne, Victoria
2019 Gala Awards 13th Julia Margaret Cameron Award (EXHIBITED FINALIST AND HONOURABLE MENTION), Barcelona, Spain
2019 Head On Portrait Prize (FINALIST) Sydney, New South Wales
2019 National Photographic Portrait Prize (WINNER - ART HANDLERS’ AWARD) National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
2018 Recipient International Artist in Residence KONSTEPIDEMIN, Gothenburg, Sweden
2018 Recipient of Minderoo Foundation Artist Grant, Western Australia
2018 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize (FINALIST), Sydney, New South Wales
2018 Moran Prize (SEMI FINALIST) Sydney, New South Wales
2017 PADC Photography of the Year and GOLD SKULL recipient (WINNER) W.A
2016 National Photographic Portrait Prize (WINNER) National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
2016 Recipient of DCA Creative Development Grant, Western Australia
2016 International Photography Awards Family of Man (6 MENTIONS), NYC, USA
2016 Tokyo International Photo Awards (HON MENTION) Tokyo, Japan
2016 Moscow International Photo Awards (HON MENTION) Moscow, Russia
2015 Olive Cotton Award (FINALIST) Rural, New South Wales
2015 Head On Portrait Prize (FINALIST) Sydney, New South Wales
2015 Canon Light Awards (PRIZE WINNER) Sydney, New South Wales
2015 ND Awards (HONOURABLE MENTION) International
2015 Mosman Park Art Award (FINALIST) Mosman Park, Perth
2013 Moran Prize (SEMI FINALIST) State Library, Sydney
2012 Moran Prize (SEMI FINALIST) State Library, Sydney
2011 Moran Prize (FINALIST HIGHLY COMMENDED) State Library, Sydney
2004 Unleashing Art GPO Building, Melbourne
Grants, Funding, Panels and Prizes
2024 - 2025 Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) Peer Assessor, Culture and the Arts
2023 The Lester Painting Portrait Prize Pre Selection Panel Member, Art Gallery of Western Australia
2023 Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Prize Recipient Panel Member
2022 Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Grants and Residencies Assessment Panel Member
2021 National Portrait Gallery Commissioned Works for exhibition, Canberra
2021 Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Grants and Residencies Assessment Panel Member
2019 Winner Art Handlers’ Award, National Photographic Portrait Prize, NPG, Canberra
2018 Recipient International Artist in Residence KONSTEPIDEMIN, Gothenburg, Sweden
2018 Recipient of Minderoo Foundation Artist Grant, Western Australia
2017 Recipient PADC Gold Skull Award for Advertising Photography of the Year
2016 Winner National Photographic Portrait Prize, NPG, Canberra
2016 Recipient of DCA Creative Development Grant, Western Australia
2011 Highly Commended, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, NSW
Talks
2022 “Reciprocal Connection” with Memory Cult, Arizona
2020 Artists Talk, Minderoo Foundation
2018 On Imagery, Awareness, Connection and Truth, by invitation, Grace Forrest in support of Walk Free Foundation to Abolish Modern Slavery
2017 Speech On Light Effects and Personal Practice, by invitation, National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
2016 Contributing Panelist, On Portraiture, National Photographic Portrait Prize Forum
Solo Exhibitions
2018 The Spirit and The Flesh, Kidogo, Fremantle
2016 Elizabeth Looker - Introspective, J Shed, Fremantle
2011 South America on Polaroid, South Terrace, Fremantle
2007 Portraits 53 Nicholson St, Victoria
Feature Articles
2021 Foto Nostrum - 8 page article - Elizabeth Looker
2020 Intimacy, Nudity and 21st Century Censorship - Australian Photography Awards
2019 Emma Mills London - Wellspring Series
2019 Fabric Quarterly
2018 The New Story
Clients
Client list includes Rolling Stone, Dazed and Confused, GQ, Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, Marie Claire, Levi's, Lee, Wrangler, Roxy, Dumbo Feather, In Style, AGWA - Art Gallery of Western Australia, Water Corporation, Royal Life Saving Society, Synergy, Southern Plus, P&N Bank, Minderoo Foundation, Edith Cowan University, David Jones, Myer, Fabric Quarterly, The New Story, Toni Maticevski, dazed but amazed, My General Store, Catherine Murphy, Telethon Kids Institute, Department of Health, Design Theory