- 25th May 2013
- Working with photographers in 23 countries.
- julie cook:
- Profile
- LPA Portfolio
- Contact Me
julie cook
ABOUT WORK
I am currently lecturing at the University of East London on Photography.
I have a degree from Westminster University and a Masters from the London College of Communication. My photographic career has orientated around the design and magazine industries. My interest in the nude have led to some very enjoyable work doing covers and features for Design and Art magazines. Like many photographers I have always used my commercial work to fund personal projects. I have also become increasingly interested in photography books and have produced both published and self-published work. My most recent body of work ‘Beauties of Today’ has been published as a self-published artists book and is distributed through my website and through my activities with ABC Artists’ Book Co-operative – an international group of artists pushing the boundaries print on demand technology.
‘Beauties of Today’ engages with sexual performances in public spaces as well as the visual pleasure and complexities of the pose in relation to photographic portraiture. The context of the work is important – an original working men’s club in the East End of London, revived for a new fashionable audience while still operating as a working men’s club. It has a great history of popular entertainment.
The nude is not new for me. I have worked issues around voyeurism for a long time, mostly in London and Las Vegas. I have been particularly focused on spaces that allow public displays of sexuality and an opportunity for participation and enjoyment sexuality outside of the private and personal space.
My work at the University means that I have to consider how the industry is changing and at the same time photography is becoming increasingly popular as a subject to study and work with. This has to bring new opportunities and ways of doing things that will be totally different from that traditional ways of working. My commercial work is still within publishing but promoting my own work through whatever means: exhibiting, books, prints.
My favorite commissions were probably three covers for Bizarre magazine which were shot in Lord Litchfield’s studios The dressing rooms were covered in his old polaroid’s, the models were always quirky and Mike Trow the art director was great to work with giving everybody from the models, the make up, the assistants room to contribute to the day. We had a lot of fun doing it.
I want to exhibit ‘Beauties of Today’ and to keep making books. I have another big body of work – Olympia Moments - that needs to be edited and collated. I will be in Paris later this month with ABC Artists’ Book Co-operative for the Offprint Bookfair. It’s on at the same time as Paris Photo and last year it was a fantastic few days. Lots of people interested in photography books, lots of collectors and people wanting to buy the work.
CAREER
2011 - MA Programme Leader, University of East London
2007- 11 Senior Lecturer, University of East London
2001-5 Lecturer, London Southbank University
2000 - 2011 Freelance Photographer/Artist
1995 -2000 Landor Associates - In-House Photographer
ALSO FEATURED IN
AWARDS
2008 London Photographic Arwards Finalist
2007/8 Arts Council Grant
2002 Erotic Awards Book Winner - Baby Oil and Ice
EDUCATION
University of Westminster - BA (Hons) Photography
London College of Communication - Masters of Arts Photography
EXHIBITIONS
2011 ‘follow-ed (after hokusai)’, Arnolfini, Bristol, UK Gallery P74, Ljubljana, Germany - group show with Julie Cook
2010 ‘Strange Bedfellows’, LPA, The Assembly Rooms, London, W1 - group show with Julie Cook
2009 ‘PIN Salon’, Four Corners, Roman Road, London, E2 - group show with Julie Cook
2007/8 ‘Burlesque Boyz ’, Four Corners, London - group show: Jo Broughton, Julie Cook, Moirra Lovell and Charlotte Prodger
2007 ‘Fantasy Cities' , Roxy Bar and Screen, London - group: Nic Clear, Julie Cook and Terry Smith)
2006 ‘Erotic Awards’, Trolley Gallery, Redchurch Street, London - curating exhibition of 30 artists: Kathy Baptista, Julie Cook and Tracey Fergerson,
2006 ‘Downtown Nevada’, Astral Star Cafe, London, Photomonth - solo exhibition co-ordinated by Alternative Arts
2005 ‘Las Vegas Diaries’, White Horse, London - book launch Julie Cook and Paul Davies
2004 PH4 Festival, Madrid - public projection/ group show with Julie Cook
2003 'Big Tits Rule' 1000000 mph, London, group show curated by Kate Grieve group show with Julie Cook
2003/4 'Striptease' Coco de Mer and CCK, Covent Garden, London - solo exhibition: Julie Cook
2001 'Baby Oil and Ice', All Action Gallery, London - book launch and group show: Sarah Ainslie, Julie Cook and Lara Clifton
2001 'Paul', Slade School of Art Gallery, London - solo exhibition: Julie Cook
2000 'Baby Oil and Ice', Photographic Festival, Hereford - group show: Sarah Ainslie, Julie Cook and Lara Clifton
1995 'Expose and Express' World Aids Day, F-Stop Gallery, Bath- solo exhibition Julie Cook
1995 'Aspects of Divinity' Hanover Gallery, Visionfest, Liverpool - joint show: Julie Cook and Madame Yevonde
PUBLICATIONS
Books
2011 'Beauties of Today', artists book by Julie Cook, Back in Black Publishing
2011 The Mammoth Book of Goergeous Guys, contributer Julie Cook,edited by Barbara Cardy, Running Press Publishers
2010 ‘Reno’, Artists Book, Limited Edition artists book, photography by Julie Cook and writing by Paul Davies, Back in Black Publishing
2010/11 ‘Beauties of Today’ 1,2, 3 & 4, artists book by Julie Cook, Back in Black Publishing
2008 ‘Some Las Vegas Strip Clubs’, artists book by Julie Cook and essay by Paul Davies
2008 ‘Supercrit #2 Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, Learning from Las Vegas’, Julie Cook contributor, Routledge
2005 ‘Las Vegas Diaries’ limited edition artists book, photography by Julie Cook, writing by Paul Davies, edited by Mark Rappolt, Back in Black Publishing
2005 ‘The Architects Guide to Fame’, 43 photographs by Julie Cook, edited by Paul Davies and Torsten Schmiedeknecht, Architectural Press
2004 'Zeropolis' by Bruce Begout, 28 colour photographs by Julie Cook, Reaktion
2003 The Algiers 'Stripping Las Vegas’ A Contextual Review of Casino Resort Architecture', contributor Julie Cook, El Verso
2003 Tales From Trash City - 'London - From Punk To Blair', (contributor Julie Cook, edited by Joe Kerr and Andrew Gibson), Reaktion
2002 'Baby Oil and Ice - Striptease in East London' (photography by Sarah Ainslie and Julie Cook, edited by Lara Clifton), The-Do-Not Press
1995 'Fully Exposed: The Male Nude in Photography' Emmanuel Cooper, (contributor Julie Cook), Routledge