THE most comprehensive retrospective of John Luke’s work ever mounted is at the Ulster Museum in Belfast until next February. Northern Rhythm: The Art of John Luke celebrates one of Northern Ireland’s most distinguished artists. A modernist dedicated to craftsmanship Luke began working as a riveter in the Belfast’s shipyards, subsequently training as an artist in Belfast and London in the era of the “Bright Young Things”. Unique in its decorative lyricism and abstract expressiveness his art is characterised by the sense of rhythm he found in the Northern Ireland landscape.
Curated by Dr Joseph McBrinn of the University of Ulster the exhibition includes examples of Luke’s most important portraits, landscapes, drawings, designs for murals and sculptures, as well as woodcut and linocut prints. The painting Northern Rhythm, considered by John Luke to be his master work, is included in the show.