Joshua Y'Barbo

Advocating for All Women Artists: Change in Discourse, Truth Over Ignorance, and a More Equitable (Art)World  Dr Joshua Y’Barbo , Artist-in-Residence for TEAM LEWIS Foundation Better When We Work Together (2023) by Joshua Y'Barbo. A daughter-daddy collaboration in mixed media on card.16cm x 21cm. Introduction With today's political and economic climate, we must turn to the transformative power of contemporary art to create social impact by challenging oppressive narratives and advocating for equal and equitable representation, including the rights of marginalised genders and sexual orientations. These issues collide in the current political theatre over women’s fundamental rights in the US and across the world , illustrated by the recent UK Supreme Court gender ruling regarding biological sex in the name of equality. Now is the time to utilise contemporary artists’ social platforms to amplify their influence for climate, racial, and social change both locally and globally. ...

Art Lesson: Exploring home, nostalgia, resilience, and symbolism in art Dr Joshua Y'Barbo (2025) via 5MinuteLessonPlan.co.uk Home in the Wind (I Don't Like it in the Wind) ( 2025) by  Joshua Y'Barbo.  Digital Print, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas.  178 cm x 118.89 cm. Big Picture This lesson will engage pupils in exploring home, nostalgia, resilience, and connection themes through various creative outlets such as art, design, poetry, and performance. Objectives Understand and appreciate home, nostalgia, resilience, and connection through artistic expression. Create a visual representation that conveys personal feelings and experiences related to the themes explored. Stickability Key concepts : Home, Nostalgia, Resilience, Connection; Visual representation of emotions and experiences. Assessment for Learning Assessment can be done through peer feedback on artwork, a reflective journal entry, or a group discussion where students explain their creative choices. Adaptabili...

On Display: A Wing and A Prayer & Home in the Wind (2024-2025) Dr Joshua Y'Barbo (2025) In March, I installed some commissioned prints in the TEAM LEWIS office at Battersea Power Station. These works delve into personal themes of nostalgia, resilience, and the intricate journey of self-discovery that comes with leaving one home for another. Each piece tells a tale that reflects the bittersweet nature of growth—a narrative shaped by the echoes of family connections, the dreams of youth, and the inevitable challenges life presents. In these works, I explore the shared human experience of longing, growth, and connection, creating a tapestry of emotions that resonate deeply within us all. Joshua Y'Barbo Home in the Wind (Come Back Home Again) 2025 Digital Print, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas 118.89 cm x 178 cm Come Back Home Again is from a series titled Home in the Wind (2024-2025), which I based on the Bob Dylan Song, I Was Young When I Left Home (1966), inspiring loss of ...

Neurodivergent Superheroes: Celebrating Exceptional Thinking in the Arts By Dr Joshua Y'Barbo The Trophy (2023) by  Joshua Y'Barbo .  Daughter-daddy collaborative drawing.  Mixed media on card. 16 cm x 21 cm.   Introduction Neurodiversity recognises and values the various ways in which people's brains function, including autism, ADHA, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette's. According to Harvard Medical School, '[…] there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits ' (Baumer & Frueh, 2021). This means how we reason, understand, or act is unique to everyone, and variances should be celebrated for the value of diverse perspectives that enrich our understanding and experiences instead of disadvantages.  In the arts context, diversity fosters unique connections and fresh perspectives. For instance, PhD research at the University of Kent suggests that artists with different neurological makeups can ...