Lucy Humphrey is an award winning emerging artist and architect working across the fields of art, architecture and design.
PRACTICE
Humphrey works in site specific installation and sculpture, exploring the intersection between built forms and environments.
Her work is based in the traditions of environmental land art with conceptual works that explore our relationship to the natural world, its atmospheres and environments. Her practice increasingly focuses on the climate and biodiversity crises, and the need for us to radically change the way we connect with “nature” and planetary systems.
Humphrey believes that art, above all mediums, has the power to change minds. Art will play a crucial role in the societal transformation we need to survive a changing climate. We seek solace in art - it is our antidote, guide and hope. Art is active and alive, and only action can lead to hope.
ARTIST BIO
Lucy Humphrey is a conceptual and environmental artist working across diverse mediums. She explores an innovative use of materials, site-specific installation, and the intersection between built forms and environments. She is founder of climate-active architecture practice Studio Ecology, and cofounder of the non-profit design organisation Archrival, which specialises in collaborative and interdisciplinary design projects. She teaches as a casual academic at the University of Sydney and University of Technology Schools of Architecture, and has written for ArchitectureAU, Architectural Review Asia Pacific (AR) and Architecture Australia (AA).
Trained at the University of Sydney, Humphrey founded her practice in 2009 and works across a diverse range of projects. She has exhibited across Australia and internationally, including the Biennale of the Canary Islands (2009), Sculpture by the Sea Australia and Denmark (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017 & 2019), the Venice International Biennale of Architecture (2008 & 2012), Sydney Fringe (2011), Sydney Festival (2012), Sydney Art Month (2013), Art & About (2013), Sculpture at Barangaroo (2016), Floriade (2017) and Arte Laguna Venice (2023).
Humphrey has been recognised with multiple awards including Sculpture by the Sea’s Art Gallery of NSW Site Specific Prize (2009), Sculpture by the Sea People’s Choice Prize (2013, 2015 & 2017), University of Sydney’s Young Alumni Award for Achievement (2012), Helen Lempriere Scholarship (2013), Byera Hadley Scholarship (2017), the Arctic Circle Residency (2017) and finalist for the Lost at E Minor Young Creative Australians Award (2016), QANTAS Spirit of Youth Awards (2016) and NSW Emerging Creative Talent Award (2016). In 2017 she was selected for the Arctic Circle Residency in Svalbard, Norway and in 2018 she was awarded the Perspective 40 Under 40 Award (Architecture category).
Her art practice is complemented by Archrival’s non-traditional and experimental architecture portfolio. Archrival has been awarded the Sydney Fringe Award for Excellence (2011), NSW Planning Achievement Award (2013), IDEA Award (2014) and finalist in the Australian Urban Design Awards (2016). In 2012 they were selected for the Australian Pavilion exhibition ‘Formations: New Practices in Australian Architecture’ at the Venice Biennale.
CLIMATE EMERGENCY
Humphrey’s practice increasingly focuses on addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, with personal and professional climate advocacy undertaken through her art practice, teaching and research. Her ongoing sculptural explorations into light, atmosphere and reflection are complemented by evolving themes grounded in environmental philosophy.
Through site specific, conceptual and environmental land art works, she increasingly explores themes relating to climate change, biodiversity and species loss, and making art as a means for intimate reconnection with the natural world. Humphrey is passionate about the potential for meaningful climate activism through art, and the power for art to catalyse thinking and feeling through the planetary crises we face.
Humphrey is committed to climate activism through her parallel art and architecture practices and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration as a member of NAVA, an active contributor to Architects Declare Australia, a member of Parents for Climate and a founding member of ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network). She also strives to create climate-active and net zero architecture through her design practice Studio Ecology.