Christian Thomson

Christian Thompson is an Australian-born, London-based photographic, conceptual and performance artist whose work explores notions of identity, cultural hybridity and history. Formally trained as a sculptor, Thompson’s multidisciplinary practice engages mediums such as photography, video, sculpture, performance and sound. His work is primarily focused on the performative exploration of identity, sexuality, gender, race, ritual and memory. In his performances and photographic works, he inhabits a range of personas achieved through handcrafted costumes and carefully orchestrated poses and backdrops, and he is known for his evocative photographic self-portraits and video works.

In 2010 Thompson made history when he was awarded the Inaugural Charlie Perkins Scholarship and became the first Aboriginal Australian to be admitted into the University of Oxford in its 900-year history. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Fine Art), Trinity College, University of Oxford, England; Master of Theatre, Amsterdam School of Arts, Das Arts, The Netherlands; Masters of Fine Art (Sculpture) and Honours (Sculpture), RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, and a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.