Joshua Y'Barbo

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 ...

Art Lesson: Exploring Neurodiversity through Art and Creativity Created by Dr Joshua Y'Barbo on 21 March 2025 via  5MinuteLessonPlan.co.uk Googly Eyes (Three Boys and a Buffalo) (2023) by  Joshua Y’Barbo.  Daughter-daddy collaboration.  Mix-media on paper. Big Picture This lesson aims to introduce students to neurodiversity and its impact on artistic expression. Through exploring the stories of neurodivergent artists and engaging in sensory art creation activities, students will broaden their understanding of creativity and unconventional thinking. 45 min Duration.  Objectives Understand the concept of neurodiversity and its influence on artistic expression. Explore various art creation methods engaging multiple senses. Challenge conventional thinking in artistic endeavours.  Stickability  Students will remember that different thinking types can enhance creativity and that neurodivergent artists have significantly contributed to the arts. Adaptability...

Revealing Resilience, Transformation, Shared Human Experience, and Memory: An Interview with Multidisciplinary Artist Yulia Rotkina By Dr Joshua Y’Barbo  6 Feb 2025 What Went Down The Drain In 2020 (2021).  Installation/Video Work by Yulia Rotkina Introduction In this interview, I have the privilege of speaking with Yulia Rotkina , a talented visual artist whose journey is characterised by resilience, personal transformation, and a profound commitment to exploring the complex themes of human existence. I included Rotkina in the TEAM LEWIS Foundation Emerging Artist Exhibition 2021-2022 . With a background in psychology and experience in the film industry, Rotkina has navigated significant life changes, including the impact of loss and the challenges posed by her home country's struggles. Through their art, she aims to foster conversations about shared experiences, memory, and the essence of being human. As a Chelsea College of Arts graduate with an MA in Fine Art, she has emb...

Art Lesson: Community Engagement with Refugees through Art and Food Created by Joshua Y'Barbo on 04 Feb 2025 via 5MinuteLessonPlan.co.uk 'Still-life (fruit, veg, and cheese)' (2023) by Joshua Y'Barbo. Daughter-daddy collaborative drawing. Marker on Paper. 21 cm x 29.7cm Big Picture This lesson will explore how socially engaged activities like art workshops and community  can create a sense of belonging and promote tolerance and understanding of refugee experiences through art and design. Objectives Understand the importance of socially engaged activities in promoting community awareness and tolerance. Explore how art can be used as a tool for expressing refugee experiences. Cultivate empathy and understanding towards refugee communities through participation in hands-on activities. Stickability Key concepts : social engagement, tolerance, empathy, community belonging, refugee experiences Adaptability SEN : Provide visual aids and simplified instructions. Fast Progressor...

Art Lesson: Using Art to Enhance Wellbeing and Problem-Solving Created by Joshua Y'Barbo on 04 Feb 2025 via 5MinuteLessonPlan.co.uk Feeling Grief  (2023) by Joshua Y'Barbo. Digital Print. Variable Dimensions. Big Picture This lesson will explore the relationship between art, well-being, problem-solving, and design thinking, emphasising their practical application in everyday workplace settings. Students will delve into creativity, enhanced well-being, independent creativity, teamwork, diversity, and brainstorming. Objectives Understand the connection between art, well-being, problem-solving, and design thinking. Explore how creativity can positively impact workplace environments. Apply problem-solving techniques to work-related scenarios. Stickability Students will remember how creativity and teamwork are essential for solving workplace challenges effectively. Assessment for Learning Assessment activities will include group discussions on the importance of creativity in problem...