Chris Wainwright, Artist and Educator Who Co-Founded Afterall, Dies

Chris Wainwright, a British artist, educator, and former head of Central Saint Martins, has died. He was instrumental in founding the art journal Afterall in 1998, after a proposal sketched on a napkin by Mark Lewis and Charles Esche. Wainwright supported the project despite a personal conflict with Lewis, later threatening resignation when the university sought changes. His creative practice spanned photography, performance, and installation, often engaging with environmental themes. He led expeditions at sea through projects like Cape Farewell, Hermitage Moorings, Dazzle Ship London, and Futurelab, creating immersive experiences for artists and scientists. With partner Anne Lydiat, he organized What Has to Be Done (2013–16), a series of participatory voyages in the Western Scottish Isles. Wainwright aligned with radical educators like John Dewey and Paulo Freire, emphasizing experiential learning for ecological change. His work challenged ideologies of environmental exploitation and advocated for environmental literacy.