Fleur Wickes 01 05 2026

I didn't go to art school. I went to the work.

My work has saved me. It's been the place I go to understand how it is that I feel.

I studied photography in 1989. Spent two decades as a portrait photographer. Published short stories and poetry. Began making text-based artwork.

Built a successful studio practice. Burnt out. Questioned everything.

Thought I'd go get myself an MFA. I was there for seven days, like Jesus.

I needed my thinking to be mine and mine alone. I've always needed to go my own way.

Take the long way round.

I used to make text-based work that described how I felt in words. Now I'm reaching directly for the feeling itself. Marks, glyphs, symbols. Talking about my internal weather.