Sue Tompkins

Sue Tompkins’ practice is lead by an enquiry into language and personal expression, through the spoken, sung, and written word. Over several years this has incorporated text, sound, installation and live performance. Addressing language in visual and spatial terms Tompkins works with the fragments of words, phrases and lyrics gathered from everyday encounters and experiences. By an almost rhythmical accumulation of words - ordered, interrupted and repeated – Tompkins allows us to experience the flow of language in state of flux – both open ended and closed - paused, re-mixed and undone.

Tompkins has been involved in exhibitions and performances worldwide. Selected solo exhibitions include Diana Stitger, Amsterdam, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, The Modern Institute, Glasgow, Inverleith House, Edinburgh, Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis and West London Projects, London. She has presented performances and been included in numerous group exhibitions including those at Bregenzer Kunstverein, Bregenz, Turner Contemporary, Margate, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, the 29th São Paolo Biennale, São Paolo, Hayward Gallery, London, ICA, Whitechapel and Tate Modern, London, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt and Artists Space, New York.
Tompkins produced the web-based project, ‘My Kind Book’ with Dia Art Foundation, New York  and received the Paul Hamlyn Award in 2011. 

Courtesy of ICA London