Matthew Harle stands out in the contemporary British arts and literary scene as a writer and curator whose work bridges archives, social history, and creative practice. Known for his thought-provoking projects and his commitment to making cultural history accessible to a wider public, Harle has become an influential voice in the intersecting worlds of art, literature and public engagement. His career is a testament to how scholarship and creativity can be fused to tell stories that might otherwise remain hidden. From his leadership at the Warburg Institute to his acclaimed publications, he has continually redefined how we understand the relationship between art, identity and historical memory.
Early Life and Academic Foundations
Matthew Harle’s journey into the world of cultural scholarship began with a deep interest in literature and the arts. He pursued advanced study in English Literature, ultimately completing a PhD at Birkbeck, University of London. This rigorous academic training shaped his capacity to think critically about how stories from the past influence present identities and how archives can serve as living sources of inspiration. The grounding in literature gave him the tools to interpret cultural phenomena in ways that resonate far beyond academic circles, laying the groundwork for his later curatorial projects and books.
Curatorial Vision at the Warburg Institute
Today Harle holds the role of Curator of Artistic Programmes at the Warburg Institute, one of the most renowned centres for the study of cultural history and art in London. This appointment marks an important milestone for the Institute: he is its first dedicated curator of artistic programmes. In this position, Harle is responsible for developing exhibitions, residencies and public events that connect the Institute’s remarkable collections with contemporary audiences. His work ensures that the Warburg’s treasures are not confined to scholars alone but are reimagined for the public through innovative displays and creative collaborations.
The Warburg Institute itself has long been a hub for exploring how images, symbols and ideas move across cultures and eras. Harle’s curatorial approach fits naturally with this mission. He has helped to open up the Institute to a broader audience at a time when it is undergoing a significant redevelopment, known as the Warburg Renaissance. This project aims to expand and modernise the Institute’s public spaces, and Harle’s role in shaping its artistic programming is central to its future vision.
Previous Roles at the Barbican and the British Film Institute
Before joining the Warburg Institute, Harle gained invaluable experience at two of the UK’s most prominent cultural institutions: the Barbican Centre and the British Film Institute. At the Barbican he curated public programmes that brought together artists, writers and audiences in dialogue, exploring themes as varied as urban life, social change and experimental art. His time at the BFI further deepened his understanding of film as a medium for cultural reflection and community engagement. These experiences honed his skills in presenting complex ideas through accessible and engaging events, a hallmark of his later work.
Major Exhibitions and Projects
Among Harle’s most notable achievements is the 2023 exhibition “People Make Television” at the contemporary art space Raven Row. This retrospective explored the history of community and open-access television, highlighting how ordinary people have used the medium to share their own stories and perspectives. The exhibition was celebrated for its meticulous research and its ability to bring to life the spirit of grassroots broadcasting, demonstrating Harle’s talent for curating projects that are both scholarly and profoundly human.
Harle has also worked closely with artist Rita Keegan, helping to assemble and curate her archive and to present her retrospective “Somewhere Between Here & There”. This project, like many of his others, shows his commitment to amplifying voices that have historically been underrepresented, particularly within Black British art and cultural history. By drawing attention to Keegan’s work and to the broader narratives of Black British identity, Harle has contributed to a more inclusive understanding of the nation’s artistic heritage.
Acclaimed Publications
As a writer, Matthew Harle has an equally impressive record. His books and edited collections reveal his fascination with the intersections of art, politics and social history. In 2024 he published The Underground Sea: John Berger on Miners and Strikes with Canongate, a powerful anthology of Berger’s writings that captures the struggles and dignity of mining communities. This work not only pays tribute to Berger’s insight into labour and class but also reflects Harle’s own commitment to documenting working-class experiences and the politics of art.
In the same year he co-authored Black Arsenal with Weidenfeld & Nicolson, a ground-breaking exploration of the cultural and political significance of Arsenal Football Club in Black British life. The book examines how the club became a symbol of community and identity, connecting the worlds of sport, music and social activism. Through careful research and a nuanced narrative, Harle and his collaborators reveal the profound ways in which football can reflect broader social changes and the experiences of marginalised groups.
Earlier works include Afterlives of Abandoned Work, which delves into unfinished and forgotten creative projects, and the sourcebook Of Mud & Flame: A Penda’s Fen Sourcebook, which collects essays and documents around the landmark British television play Penda’s Fen. He has also edited collections of proposals by the experimental novelist B. S. Johnson, further illustrating his wide-ranging literary interests and his commitment to preserving avant-garde cultural legacies.
Interdisciplinary Approach and Cultural Impact
One of Harle’s defining strengths is his ability to work across disciplines. He seamlessly combines the roles of historian, literary critic and curator, demonstrating that art and culture cannot be confined to a single medium or academic field. His projects often bring together visual art, literature, film and performance, creating spaces where ideas from different traditions interact and spark new conversations. This interdisciplinary approach is particularly valuable in today’s cultural landscape, where audiences seek connections between past and present, theory and practice.
Through both his writing and his exhibitions, Harle has also contributed to a more inclusive cultural narrative. By highlighting the experiences of working-class communities, Black British artists and other historically marginalised groups, he has helped to reshape how Britain tells its own stories. His work encourages audiences to see art not merely as a collection of aesthetic objects but as a living dialogue about identity, memory and social change.
Ongoing and Future Work
Harle continues to develop new projects that build on his fascination with archives and hidden histories. One forthcoming work involves a found address book of Berlin Jews from 1931, which he is using as the basis for a new book exploring memory, displacement and the traces of lives disrupted by history. Such a project perfectly illustrates his commitment to uncovering personal and collective narratives that might otherwise remain overlooked.
At the Warburg Institute he remains a driving force behind the development of new artistic programming. As the Warburg Renaissance progresses, his efforts will help ensure that the Institute remains not only a centre for scholarly research but also a vibrant public cultural space. By fostering collaborations between artists, historians and the wider community, he is helping to create a model of how cultural institutions can be both academically rigorous and widely accessible.
Influence on Britain’s Cultural Landscape
Matthew Harle’s influence extends beyond the walls of the institutions where he has worked. His books reach readers interested in literature, politics and the visual arts, while his exhibitions and public programmes draw diverse audiences into conversation about the meaning of culture in contemporary society. In doing so, he challenges conventional boundaries between academia and the public sphere, demonstrating that cultural history belongs to everyone.
His approach also provides an example for emerging curators and writers. By showing how rigorous scholarship can be combined with creative presentation and a commitment to inclusivity, he sets a standard for how future generations might engage with art and history. In an era when cultural institutions are seeking to broaden their audiences and relevance, Harle’s career offers a compelling model of how to achieve both depth and accessibility.
Conclusion
Matthew Harle has emerged as one of Britain’s most dynamic cultural figures, blending the roles of writer, curator and historian with exceptional skill. From his academic beginnings to his current leadership at the Warburg Institute, he has consistently demonstrated how archives and historical narratives can be brought to life for contemporary audiences.
His publications, including The Underground Sea and Black Arsenal, reveal a profound engagement with questions of identity, class and community. Through exhibitions like “People Make Television” and his work with artists such as Rita Keegan, he has helped to create a more inclusive and thought-provoking cultural landscape. In every aspect of his career, Harle shows that the past is not static but a living source of dialogue and inspiration, offering new ways to understand who we are and where we come from.
