Tristan Duke is a Los Angeles-based artist working in photography, holography, video, installation, and other experimental media. With a special interest in light, optics, and visual perception, Duke’s work explores how we seek knowledge about ourselves and the world.

Duke’s work often incorporates technologies and processes of his own invention, such as his Glacial Optics project: using camera lenses made from ice to explore the glacier as a literal and poetic lens through which to understand our times. 

As the recipient of the 2023/2024 LACMA Art and Technology Lab Grant, Duke is continuing to build on his Glacial Optics Series, exploring cutting edge science on and in the glaciers –with partners including the National Science Foundation’s Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF), the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC), The Nevada Museum of Art Center for Art + Environment, and many others.

Duke has pioneered numerous holographic technologies, including creating the first ever 3D hologram vinyl records.  He has created original hologram artwork for many albums and soundtrack releases ranging from Jack White to Guns ‘n Roses and Star Wars, earning him a Clio Award in 2016.  His holographic album artwork has been featured on the Tonight Show, and in Rolling Stone, Forbes, The Verge, Gizmodo and many more.

From 2010-2023 Duke worked in collaboration with artists Lauren Bon and Rich Nielsen, forming the Optics Division of the Metabolic Studio, a collective project seeking to recontextualizing photography as a land-based medium and social practice.

He has shared his work internationally, with exhibitions and public talks at institutions including the MIT Media Lab, the Getty Museum, the Santa Fe Institute, Tamarind Institute, the de Young Museum, the Exploratorium, RISD, C|O Berlin, LACMA, MASS MoCA, and many others.