William Brooks (b. 1998, Pembrokeshire, Wales) is an artist working at the intersection of electromagnetic research and analogue material practice.
His work transforms invisible phenomena — radio signal, electromagnetic transmission, sound — into material forms that interrogate how technology, place, and perception are co-constituted. Central to this is the RF Landscape framework: a spatial and political conception of the electromagnetic terrain that co-inhabits the physical world, shaping identity, interaction, and place beyond the threshold of human perception.
Within this field, Brooks investigates both the intentional and incidental propagation of information — tracing the entanglements between signal, place, and human agency. More recently, his practice has extended into the haptic and sonic, moving from electromagnetic inscription to geological matter as archive.
Brooks was selected for the inaugural Diriyah Art Futures Emergent Artist Programme (Riyadh, 2024–25), developed in partnership with Le Fresnoy. He was shortlisted for the Gilchrist-Fisher Award (2024) and awarded at the Small File Photo Festival, Photographers' Gallery, London (2023). His work has been exhibited internationally, including in Riyadh, London, Lausanne, and Wales, and his practice has been cited in doctoral research at London South Bank University (2025).
Citations:
De Valk, M. (2025) The image at the end of the world: Communities of practice redefining technology on a damaged Earth. PhD thesis. London South Bank University, pp. 196–199. Available at:
https://researchportal.lsbu.ac.uk/en/publications/the-image-at-the-end-of-the-world-communities-of-practice-redefin/
Press/Articles:
De Valk, M. (2026) Less / More. Unthinking Photography. Available at: https://unthinking.photography/articles/less-more
Ansari, S. (2024) Artist William Brooks seeks fresh inspiration in Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Art Futures program. Arab News, Riyadh. https://arab.news/vyujf
Instagram: @williamjohnbrooks
Contact: wjbrooksofficial@gmail.com
His work transforms invisible phenomena — radio signal, electromagnetic transmission, sound — into material forms that interrogate how technology, place, and perception are co-constituted. Central to this is the RF Landscape framework: a spatial and political conception of the electromagnetic terrain that co-inhabits the physical world, shaping identity, interaction, and place beyond the threshold of human perception.
Within this field, Brooks investigates both the intentional and incidental propagation of information — tracing the entanglements between signal, place, and human agency. More recently, his practice has extended into the haptic and sonic, moving from electromagnetic inscription to geological matter as archive.
Brooks was selected for the inaugural Diriyah Art Futures Emergent Artist Programme (Riyadh, 2024–25), developed in partnership with Le Fresnoy. He was shortlisted for the Gilchrist-Fisher Award (2024) and awarded at the Small File Photo Festival, Photographers' Gallery, London (2023). His work has been exhibited internationally, including in Riyadh, London, Lausanne, and Wales, and his practice has been cited in doctoral research at London South Bank University (2025).
Citations:
De Valk, M. (2025) The image at the end of the world: Communities of practice redefining technology on a damaged Earth. PhD thesis. London South Bank University, pp. 196–199. Available at:
https://researchportal.lsbu.ac.uk/en/publications/the-image-at-the-end-of-the-world-communities-of-practice-redefin/
Press/Articles:
De Valk, M. (2026) Less / More. Unthinking Photography. Available at: https://unthinking.photography/articles/less-more
Ansari, S. (2024) Artist William Brooks seeks fresh inspiration in Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Art Futures program. Arab News, Riyadh. https://arab.news/vyujf
Instagram: @williamjohnbrooks
Contact: wjbrooksofficial@gmail.com
Exhibitions
2026 - The Piazza/Ffenestr Y, Aberystwyth Art Centre, Wales.
2025 - Continuum ‘25, Diriyah Art Futures, Riyadh, KSA.
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.
2026 - The Piazza/Ffenestr Y, Aberystwyth Art Centre, Wales.
2025 - Continuum ‘25, Diriyah Art Futures, Riyadh, KSA.
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.