Luke Cornish

Luke Cornish, also known as E.L.K., is widely regarded as Australia’s leading stencil artist. A four-time Archibald Prize finalist, Cornish has redefined the boundaries of stencil art through his meticulously layered, hand-cut works that combine technical precision with emotional and political depth. His practice, which can involve more than 100 stencil layers and hundreds of colours, transforms a medium often associated with street art into complex, painterly compositions of remarkable realism and nuance.

Cornish’s subjects have ranged from humanitarian figures and social activists to anonymous individuals and more recently, meditative, existential imagery such as his Astronaut series. His work continually oscillates between the political and the personal, offering commentary on faith, conflict, identity and compassion.

Over his career, Cornish has received widespread recognition, including the Australian Stencil Art Prize (2010), the Holding Redlich People’s Choice Award at the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés (2017), and a Churchill Fellowship (2013). He was also a finalist in the Sulman Prize (2013) and the Metro Art Prize (2011). In 2012, he became the first stencil artist ever selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Father Bob Maguire — the subject of his short film Me-We, which was shortlisted at Tropfest.

Beyond the studio, Cornish has made multiple humanitarian trips to Syria, Lebanon and Iran. In 2017 he co-founded For Syria’s Children, a charitable organisation raising funds for children affected by war. His curatorial and philanthropic work continues to align his artistic practice with social conscience and advocacy.

Cornish’s work has been exhibited widely across Australia and internationally in Paris, London, Rome, Los Angeles and Amsterdam. Each piece demonstrates his singular mastery of stencil art and his ongoing exploration of humanity, fragility, and resilience through the lens of contemporary social commentary.