E.L.K. is Australia’s most acclaimed and celebrated stencil artist, participating in more than 20 exhibitions and winning or placing in numerous art prizes and awards. E.L.K. is widely known for his portrait of Father Bob Maguire, for which he was a finalist in the 2012 Archibald Awards. But many won’t know that E.L.K. (Luke Cornish) has a special connection to the National Library where in his youth he worked as a ‘stackie’ – retrieving books from the Library collection for readers.

Luke returned to the Library to launch a new art book written by respected art historian Ken McGregor, The Stencil Art of Luke Cornish. Joining Luke in conversation was Kate Fielding, CEO of Australia’s national arts and culture think tank, A New Approach.

About Luke Cornish (E.L.K.)

Luke Cornish’s aptitude towards creativity was inherent from an early age. Originally from Canberra, and now living and working in Sydney, Cornish is known in the urban art world by his moniker, E.L.K. Incorporating his background in urban contemporary art, Cornish traverses the expansiveness of the street environment, adapting his practice to more artistically controlled materials such as canvas, aluminium, board and glass. Stencil art was one of the earliest forms of social and political activism and Cornish’s practice doesn’t stray far from this intention. 

Cornish is a four-time Archibald prize finalist and has won many awards including the coveted Holding Redlich People's Choice Award at the Salon des Refusés in 2017, the Churchill fellowship in 2013; and he was a finalist in the Sulman prize in the same year. In 2012, Cornish’s short film, Me-We, which documented the process and construction of his portrait of Father Bob Maguire for entry into the 2012 Archibald Prize, was shortlisted the prestigious Tropfest Film Festival.

Cornish is co-founder of the charity organisation, For Syria's Children, which works with non-government organisations on the ground in Syria, raising much needed funds for children affected by conflict.

About Kate Fielding

Kate Fielding

Kate Fielding is the CEO of A New Approach (ANA), Australia's national arts and culture think tank. Prior to her role with ANA, Kate was the Chair of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission based in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and a member of the Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. She has been the Chair of Regional Arts Australia and of Country Arts WA, and was named a 40 Under 40 WA Business Leader in 2017.