ABOUT

I create art. It is that plain and simple. The crux of what I create is self-evident through my artistic endeavors. It has been an interesting journey thus far and I am sure will continue to unfold how it sees fit. Sometimes you just must enjoy the ride and take the ebbs and flows as they come rather than avoidance. My story is one of a nomadic journey. A military kid that has been afforded the opportunities to see many types of people and places. Art was always my go-to in capturing these experiences. And my solace when the moves were coming at a rampant pace with no time to make many friends. Art eventually became my coping skill in dealing with the hard times. It was always there to get me through. In this sense, my art has always been about a true connection to the subject, maybe because it was so intertwined with who I am as a person. It was my consistent friend. It has accepted me as I am and is willing to allow me to create from a place of pureness and withheld judgment. This is not a story of relegation but one of great persistence and a gift. It may seem weird to many but when I am creating, it connects me to God. After all, He is the ultimate creator. This relationship has allowed me to express myself without worry or concern, which is something I hope that everyone finds an outlet within their paths to have the same ability to do. My journey is jaded by my experiences, but this is what also makes it unique in value and personal. I do not create from a place of existential freedom but one that is more nuanced in thought and interpretation. Some pieces may take one sitting while others may take months and years to absolve. This becomes part of the piece and its story. My hope is that a piece of my work conveys the progression in a journey, which is something to keep in mind when viewing. Of course, in simplistic terms, it is paint or some sort of medium but beyond the visible story are the underlying notions that have brought forth the subject at hand and the creative process that has gleaned the final piece of artwork. It is much more complicated at times. This may be why I oftentimes operate within the realism realm but do move back and forth between different genres. I choose not to be a one-trick pony with a specific look but utilize different means and modalities to create what speaks to me at that specific moment in time. Beyond the conceptual components, it comes down to just creating it, a work that conveys the depths that define my journey and our stories.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Brother Joshua (1980, United States) is an artist that creates paintings as his operative mode of expression and thought. With a conceptual approach, Joshua addresses finite details in the subjects that he paints and has a strong sense of connection to every work that is created in an effort to purvey absolute truths, whatever those may be. Brother Joshua’s current focus in art trends toward sociological issues and topics that arouse an emotional response in the viewers. Many of his pieces attempt to show social class tensions in juxtaposition with long-held cognitive dissonance beliefs amongst the viewers in an attempt to hold the proverbial “mirror” up to the audience creating an experience that one has to reckon with and address within themselves about perceived truths versus their actualized reality. A truth seeker by nature, it is imperative to find the relational values within a piece to ensure the symbiosis is completed within an artistic introspection.

Further subjects hint at Joshua’s upbringing and cultural influences that have developed and shaped his evolution as octillions of atoms working together to synthesize his growth and intellectual understanding. Brother Joshua currently lives and works out of Oklahoma City.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2000 - Blueyce - Head Graphic Designer

2001 - University of Oklahoma - Art School Dropout - Norman, OK

2003 - Infinitevisionz LLC - Head Artist

2011 - IAO Art Gallery Showcase, Oklahoma City, OK

2021 - Norman Art Walk - Norman, OK

2021 - Juneteenth Festival - Oklahoma City, OK

2021 - Juneteenth on the East - Oklahoma City, OK

2021 - Julius Jones Art Show - Oklahoma City, OK

2022 - Clara Luper Art Show - Oklahoma City, OK

2022 - The Other Art Fair - Dallas, TX

2023 - Paseo Arts Festival - Oklahoma City, OK

2023 - Clara Luper Art Show - Oklahoma City, OK

2024 - Paseo Arts Festival - Oklahoma City, OK