SpekWork Studio was a collaborative project (2018-2024) by digital artists Cat Bluemke and Jonathan Carroll that developed artist-driven games and virtual exhibitions. In their artistic work the duo explored themes and mechanics of labour within video games.
Original works by Bluemke and Carroll exhibited internationally with prominent institutions including Rhizome and the New Museum (2020), Fotomuseum Winterthur (2024), Milan Machinima Festival (2024), Singapore Art Museum (2023), Art Gallery of Regina (2023), and Art Gallery of Grande Prairie (2022).
From 2019-2024, SpekWork Studio partnered with the MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina, SK, Treaty 4 Territory) to develop digital art programs:
DAiR V1: Video Games by Artists (2020) — An online exhibition of works produced during the gallery's first Digital Artist in Residence program, featuring Hilarey Cowan, TJ Cuthand, Simon Fuh, Dallas Flett-Wapash, and Sandee Moore. The exhibition explored video games as artistic medium, investigating themes of care, control, mental health, isolation, and shared crisis.
Ender Gallery (2021-22) — Co-curated with Sarah Friend, this project explored Minecraft as a tool for art creation, hosting artists Cat Haines, Simon M. Benedict, Huidi Xiang, and Travess Smalley through two-month residencies culminating in exhibitions.
Digital Exhibitions — Three curated exhibitions: There is no Centre (2023, curated by Katie Micak), Echoes from the Future (2023, curated by Tina Sauerlaender), and Wake Windows (2024, curated by Rea McNamara).
The duo collaborated with other arts organizations and curators to create custom expanded reality exhibitions, including:
Hypercity (2022) — An augmented reality exhibition for Long Winter, featuring works by Cassraa, Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑯᒓᐧᒧ, Malik McKoy, Vasuki Shanmuganathan, Shonee, hiba ali, Casey Koyczan, and Linda Zhang. Curated by Mitra.
Geofenced (2021) — A multisite augmented reality exhibition for InterAccess (Toronto), featuring works by Scott Benesiinaabandan, Cat Bluemke & Jonathan Carroll, Adrienne Matheuszik, and Jenn E Norton. Curated by Karie Liao.
Bluemke and Carroll collaborated with Ben McCarthy on the VR documentary resourced (2017-) and the podcast art/work/play.
