An acclaimed retrospective celebrating the extraordinary career of internationally recognised photographer and filmmaker, Andy Earl, is taking to the road, showcasing Arts University Bournemouth’s (AUB) creative expertise to audiences across the UK and beyond.
Conceived, produced, managed, and curated entirely in-house by The Gallery at AUB working with the University’s Photography Technical Service Team, Andy Earl: See or Be Seen highlights a career spanning more than four decades.
The exhibition features iconic portraits, album artwork, and music video stills created for global cultural figures including Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd, Prince, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams and Sir David Attenborough.
Following its inaugural run which launched The Gallery's Exhibition Programme last year, See or Be Seen, embarked on an ambitious national tour, with the ‘Made in Bournemouth’ exhibition displayed at Arch 10, Bankside Yards in London this summer with some additional artworks added.
Ahead of the full exhibition's next major leg, four key artworks, including portraits of Sir David Attenborough (Blue Planet) and Johnny Cash (American Recordings), will travel to Falmouth University from early November to mid-December 2026.
Early next year, the complete exhibition with some additional archival images of Andy’s student days at Nottingham Trent University will be hosted at Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University, under the title Andy Earl: Flash and Blur, to include his student work running from 16 January to 6 March 2027.
Curator at The Gallery, Violet McClean, is currently gathering institutional partnerships and university networks to support the development of an international tour, with plans to take the exhibition overseas.
“This exhibition is a powerful example of the creative talent, expertise, and collaborative spirit that exists right here on campus," comments Violet. "It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the AUB brand globally and demonstrate the reach, ambition, and impact of the work produced at our university.”
The tour highlights AUB's growing external and civic profile, underlining the AUB’s role as a major contributor to the UK's cultural and creative economy.
Reflecting on his creative process and the importance of arts education, Andy says, “AUB is special, it sparkles, encourages curiosity, experimentation, optimism and confidence.
My career has been littered with mistakes, where I think I've blown it; rather than ignore and discard, I realise often this is a sign to where my next creative step is. I have spent my life living off my imagination, taking risks and being inquisitive, and that is thanks to an arts education.”
