Joshua Y'Barbo

  Art Club: Gallery Visit to Sarah Lucas’ Happy Gas at Tate Britain By Joshua Y'Barbo F lorian  and  Kevin  (2015) by Sarah Lucas is displayed at the Tate Britain (2023). Photo by Joshua Y'Barbo As an artist-in-residence for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation and a lecturer at the University of the Arts London , I write Art Clubs for cross-sector audiences and teach various theoretical, practical, and research-based skills transferable across art and design.  This month, I led a group of women from TEAM LEWIS through Sara Lucas’ Happy Gas at the Tate Britain. Doing so allowed me to learn more about and reform my opinion about Lucas’ work and talk about and share these ideas with the group.  Photo by Joshua Y'Barbo The group of young women, who predominately never studied art but are very aware of gender inequality across many aspects of life, initially wanted to see the exhibition because of the giant phallic marrow sculptures  Florian and Kevin (2015) in...

Interview with Hannah Kay By Joshua Y'Barbo Hannah Kay is a multidisciplinary Contemporary Artist who specialises in mixed media textiles, sculpture and installation. Creating ‘situations’ and environments in which the audience can encounter and respond to through the visual and suggested movement of the work creates movement in the viewer.  You can learn more about Hannah's work on her website and follow her on Instagram .  Joshua Y'Barbo (JY):  Tell me about your practice: What do you make work about? How to you go about making your work? What do you think about when making your work? Do you still make work? Hannah Kay (HK):  I am a multidisciplinary textiles artist specialising in sculpture and installation. My works are focused on play, the haptic and consciousness. Through exploring textiles traditions and modern-day living, I create situations and opportunities for the audience to engage, create memories and feel a sense of authority over the works.  My t...

 Interview with Grace McNerney By Joshua Y'Barbo Grace McNerney is a painter and photographer specializing in the practice of looking at where the liminal and mundane meet spectacle, forcing the viewer to pay greater attention and hopefully reverence by exaggerating their scale. Grace's practice delves into universes such as office culture, aeroplane safety, and fake casinos. Within a theme,  she  revels in creating a series spanning everything, from film to sculpture, to painting, based exclusively around the parameters of my present fixation.  You can find out more about Grace's work on her website , follow her on Instagram , and check out her Graduate Show .  Fresh Hell Part 3   (2023) by  Grace McNerney Oil on Canvas BA (Hons) Fine Art Joshua Y'Barbo (JY) : Tell me about your practice: What do you make work about? How to you go about making your work? What do you think about when making your work? Do you still make work? Grace McNerney (GM): ...

 Interview with Lan Zhang by Joshua Y'Barbo According to the Lan Zhang's website ,  Ancient symbols are the most important element in Lanlan Zhang's work. The artist is obsessed with ancient art, believing that the spirit of ancient man is similar to that of modern man living in a technological and material world. Primitive cave cultures and prehistoric cliff paintings and later burial cultures, including indigenous art from ancient Egypt, the Maya, Africa, Asia and elsewhere.  You can see more of Zhange's work on her website and follow her on Instagram .    Where There is You III (2022) by  Lan Zhang Oil on Canvas MA Fine Art Joshua Y'Barbo (JY):  Tell me about your practice: What do you make work about? How to you go about making your work? What do you think about when making your work? Do you still make work? Lan Zhang (LZ):  I'm currently working on a series of pieces about the female characters surrounding single mothers. I'm mainly explori...

 Interview with Gabriella Borges  by Joshua Y'Barbo Gabriella investigates the power of design as material activism for Reproductive Justice. She situated her work at the intersection of textiles and social justice through a fine art perspective. This project is inspired by the historical symbolism that represents freedom and justice in the United States.  You can follow Gabriella on  Instagram ,  find her on  LinkedIn , and see her  graduate showcase .   Administrate Human Rights (2023) by  Gabriella Borges              Secondhand Fabric and Recycled Thread MA Textile Design Joshua Y'Barbo (JY): Tell me about your practice: What do you make work about? How to you go about making your work? What do you think about when making your work? Do you still make work? Gabriella Borges (GB): Within my work, I investigate the power of design as material activism for reproductive justice. Through textiles and histori...

 Interview with Xijun Liao By Joshua Y'Barbo Joshua Y'Barbo (JY): Tell me about your practice: What do you make work about? How to you go about making your work? What do you think about when making your work? Do you still make work? Xijun Liao (XL): I make work about puffer/denim fabrics and also design garment collections based on my materials. By manipulating and recycling new puffer/denim fabrics, I will develop fashion-related ideas based on them. Based on my fashion design background, many garment designs will be created and practised. I am also operating my own clothing brand from my design practices. JY: How was studying and finishing your degree? What had the most impact on the work you made and make now? XL: Studying in the US and the UK feels lucky because I can obtain a genuine global vision from these two influential fashion cities. I am still on my way to finish my MA Textile Design Degree. The textile techniques delivered to me by school helped my creative practic...