Artist Statement

Joshua Jenkins

I was born in 1987 and am one of eight siblings. I was raised in New York, in the beautiful Hudson Valley, where I began my start in drawing. In high school, I moved to central Kentucky continuing my teenage artistic endeavors before deciding to return to New York, where I received my BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Studio Art. Post college I ended up spending a brief time in Philadelphia, PA where I was greatly inspired and influenced by the local urban art scene.

The contrast of the places I’ve lived has undoubtedly brought a unique dichotomy to my work in the way of Expressionism that meshes big city culture with a southern country flare. My art is exceptionally expressive and pulls influence from Street Art, Naïve Art, Pop Art, and the 20th & 21st centuries Expressionist movements. The primary subjects of my work focus on subtle gay themes, nature, and most prominently the human condition. My use of color is bold and loud. I form my figures through profound, distorted, energetic lines and unabashed brush strokes. I deliberately push myself to find a challenge within each picture and am constantly evolving as a painter. One consistent thing I do though is within each of my works I encompass raw emotion that seems to bleed through the canvas leaving behind a curious narrative to be unraveled through the viewer’s eyes.

I currently reside in Louisville, KY, focusing on my art and family. I try to frequent cities as much as possible for my urban inspiration and often visit the Great Lakes of Kentucky for inspiration from nature.

www.joshuajenkinsart.com

Paintings listed from newest to oldest