About
Stephen Burke is an Irish artist and curator. He holds an MA in painting from the Glasgow School of Art (2018) and was recently awarded the Gilbert Bayes Award for early-career sculptors from the Royal Society of Sculptors (2025). Stephen is the founder of the social media platform Post Vandalism which archives art practices that explore the ideas and aesthetics of graffiti and protest. The platform fosters support from a wide international community and inspired an edition of Kunstforum International, Germany's leading journal for contemporary art. Burke also co-founded the London based curatorial collective Pigeon Park, which organises large-format exhibitions in industrial spaces. This project was created in response to the post pandemic threat posed to artists’ working conditions in the wake of the Covid crisis. Stephen has completed residencies in Prague, Berlin, and London and exhibited work in institutions like Het Hem, Cromwell Place and the RHA. His work has also been exhibited in outdoor sculpture venues, including the UNESCO-listed Völklingen Ironworks, and frequently appears in non-commercial, post-industrial spaces.
Stephen’s work examines how cities are designed, who they serve, and how people interact with them. He explores the impact of urban development and increasing restrictions on public space, questioning whether these spaces remain truly public. Through a combination of studio-based practices in sculpture, painting, and film, and public works, he aims to encourage more interest in public space and it’s potential as a welcoming, engaging part of civic life.