William Brooks (b.1998) is a British-Welsh artist based in Pembrokeshire. His work transforms ephemeral elements—such as sound and signal—into material forms that explore how technology, place, and perception are interconnected. Through his practice, he engages with the ethereal nature of the electromagnetic and audible spectrum, producing material expressions of their otherwise imperceptible presence.
Brooks’ prior investigations have centred around the ‘Radio Frequency Landscape’—a conceptual framework that describes the invisible terrain shaped by the transmission of electromagnetic signals. The term foregrounds the spatial and temporal conditions through which wireless telematic communications occur. Within this field, Brooks investigates the intentional and incidental propagation of information, tracing how signal-based systems mediate complex entanglements between technology, geography, temporality, and human agency. His work invites reflection on humanity's Promethean desire to impress upon an otherwise naturally occurring space and the technologies employed to achieve this. More recently, his practice has shifted focus to the sonic elements of urban environments, moving from the imperceptible transmissions of radio frequencies to the tangible, embodied experience of sound waves; revealing new dimensions of place, temporality, and human impact. Through this trajectory, Brooks continues to explore how intangible phenomena become inscribed within both technological and geological contexts.
His work has been exhibited internationally in cities including Lausanne, Glasgow, and London. In 2023, he was awarded for Audible Photographs(2021) at the Small File Photo Festival, held at The Photographers' Gallery in London, and in 2024, he was nominated for the Gilchrist-Fisher Award. Most recently, Brooks was selected for the inaugural Diriyah Arts Futures Emergent Artist Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he continues to advance his innovative investigations into technology and ephemeral phenomena.
Instagram: @williamjohnbrooks
Contact: wjbrooksofficial@gmail.com
Exhibitions
2024 - I Regret To Inform You That... , The Transformation Gallery, Brixton, London.
2024 - The Gilchrist-Fisher Landscape Awards, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
2023 - Young Welsh Artists 2023, MOMA Machynlleth, Powys.
2023 - London Group Open 2023, Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London.
2023 - The Graduate Show, The Vanner Gallery, Salisbury.
2023 - Small File Photo Festival, The Photographers’ Gallery, London.
2022 - The Graduate Art Show, Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
2022 - Fine Art Photography Show, UAL Camberwell, London.
2022 – Radiophrenia Broadcast, FM Radio Broadcast, Glasgow.
2021 – A to B, Camberwell College of the Arts, Southwark.
2021 – CCI Dip Graduate Show, Creative Computing Institute, London.
2020 - Figure 1.A The Scientific Art Exhibition, Lausanne, Switzerland.
2020 – CCI Datasets, Camberwell, London.
2020 - Don’t Panic, Dilston Grove, Southwark, London.
2019 - Pop Up, Haverfordwest, Southwest Wales.
2019 - Camberwell BA Photography Group Show, Camberwell, London.
2018 - Final Show, Pembrokeshire College.
2018 – Eisteddfod, Cardiff Bay.
Residencies
2024-25 - Diriyah Arts Futures Emergent Artist Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Awards
2024 - Gilchrist-Fisher Landscape Awards Nominee, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London.
2023 - ‘What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?’ Prize, Small File Photo Festival, Photographers’ Gallery, London.
2018 - Eisteddfod Prize Winner Welsh National Photography, Cardiff.
2018 - Eisteddfod Prize Winner B&W 18-30 Photography, Cardiff.
2024 - I Regret To Inform You That... , The Transformation Gallery, Brixton, London.
2024 - The Gilchrist-Fisher Landscape Awards, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
2023 - Young Welsh Artists 2023, MOMA Machynlleth, Powys.
2023 - London Group Open 2023, Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London.
2023 - The Graduate Show, The Vanner Gallery, Salisbury.
2023 - Small File Photo Festival, The Photographers’ Gallery, London.
2022 - The Graduate Art Show, Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
2022 - Fine Art Photography Show, UAL Camberwell, London.
2022 – Radiophrenia Broadcast, FM Radio Broadcast, Glasgow.
2021 – A to B, Camberwell College of the Arts, Southwark.
2021 – CCI Dip Graduate Show, Creative Computing Institute, London.
2020 - Figure 1.A The Scientific Art Exhibition, Lausanne, Switzerland.
2020 – CCI Datasets, Camberwell, London.
2020 - Don’t Panic, Dilston Grove, Southwark, London.
2019 - Pop Up, Haverfordwest, Southwest Wales.
2019 - Camberwell BA Photography Group Show, Camberwell, London.
2018 - Final Show, Pembrokeshire College.
2018 – Eisteddfod, Cardiff Bay.
Residencies
2024-25 - Diriyah Arts Futures Emergent Artist Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Awards
2024 - Gilchrist-Fisher Landscape Awards Nominee, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London.
2023 - ‘What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?’ Prize, Small File Photo Festival, Photographers’ Gallery, London.
2018 - Eisteddfod Prize Winner Welsh National Photography, Cardiff.
2018 - Eisteddfod Prize Winner B&W 18-30 Photography, Cardiff.