Based in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Luke Townsend is a multi-disciplinary artist working in photography, printmaking, and calligraphy. Woven through the influence of Buddha Dharma, Luke’s work is both an active response to his own mental health, and an instrument — tuning him into the Buddhist practices of training the mind. He is currently a student of Tibetan Calligraphy under Master Calligrapher and Dharma Artist, Tashi Mannox, and completed a year of Tibetan language studies at the University of Kansas as a scholarship recipient from the Center for East Asian Studies. Luke has multiple photographic works in the permanent collection of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, and in 2022 installed a permanent photographic mural, 13×32’, in the ceiling of the DOW Center for Multicultural and Community Studies in Hale Library at Kansas State University. Multiple other photographs are on display across the KSU campus in collections at the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center, Staley School of Leadership Studies, and within the Presidential Residence of KSU President Richard Linton and First Lady Sally Linton. Luke is a freelance contributor for ZUMA Press with work published in Wisdom Publications, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, ABC News, The New Territory, Kansas Leadership Center Journal, and newspapers across the globe.

Creating engaging exhibitions and programs centered around sparking creative discourse and providing educational and hands-on learning. Luke has exhibited his photographs in many galleries, typically displayed as “free prints” hanging between handmade wood hangers and believes the tactile experience of removing the barrier of protective glass during exhibition brings the viewer closer to the work, allowing for a deeper, and more rich sense of engagement. He has given public talks and University lectures alongside presenting a digital slide show of his work, as well as participating in several artist talks at exhibiting galleries. Likewise, Luke has led photography workshops to industry professionals and amateurs and has worked with schools and museums for programmatic workshops. A wide range of programs and exhibitions can be arranged, and is dependent on each individual request and can include public talks, lectures (speaking and digital presentation)
academic talks, lectures (speaking and digital presentation)
photographic workshops (street photography, editorial portraiture, lighting, etc.) – public / academia – cyanotype workshop (adults/children/schools) – utilizing nature outside to make cyanotype pictogram prints
multi-artist collaboration workshop/program

Presentations up to 1 hour – $425 + travel and lodging, if applicable. Workshops, exhibitions, and other custom programs are priced on an individual basis and dependent upon: scope & length of the program
amount of advanced planning required
if artworks need to be created, etc. Additional fees, if applicable: – travel
lodging
cost of materials should work need to be created/framed. Workshop fees vary depending on:
workshop type (photographic workshops (shooting, lighting, etc), alternative printing/cyanotypes, calligraphy)
scope & length/number of workshops/projects
number of participants
required advanced planning, etc. Additional fees, if applicable:
travel
lodging
cost of materials to be used by workshop participants + materials in workshop preparation. Physical Exhibition of work priced accordingly.

Any of the aforementioned primary and/or workshop program types can be augmented for a wide range of age and disciplines within the community.

Any of the above speaking and/or workshop program types can be augmented for a wide range of ages and disciplines within the education system. Luke has worked with the faculty and public engagement lectures and both young and older students in classroom settings. Luke’s wide range of experience from moving to the Big Apple at 18 to help produce over 8 stories for National Geographic, the freelance grind with other national publications and press agencies, creating while working a full-time job, and transitioning and maintaining a business as a full-time artist and the journey from Kansas, New York City, and back to Kansas and how that has influenced my work. He can also speak on taking a massive pivot as an artist, freeing yourself from a self pigeon-holed career, and learning to be okay with exploring new mediums of interest for the first time and how to manage self-doubt and mitigating the pressures of social media relevancy. Luke can also touch on the importance of time in how he approaches his work and the creative benefits of revisiting old work to transform it into new and revitalized projects. This can accompany a digital presentation and/or a physical showing of work.