biography

MA: Information Studies, University of Brighton
BA (Hons): Graphic Design, Central St Martins, London
BTEC Diploma:  Art and Design, East Ham College, London

Brighton-based Londoner Josef remembers rushing home after primary school in Hackney to make more Dalmatians for his self-built, 3D model of Hell Hall, complete with cut-out Cruella DeVille, until he finally had all one hundred and one in place.

Animals, childhood experience, outlines, cut-out figures, texture; these core elements mingle with later influences, from a fascination with stained glass windows to music, underground New York club culture and personal identity, producing a body of work which is often quirky, is always decorative and full of colour, but that often contains an undercurrent that disturbs the joke, pointing at deeper themes of race and sexuality.

Josef has produced and shown work in a variety of contexts (see below), and his original artwork has found its way to many corners of the globe, including Japan, Singapore, Australia and the USA. With illustration commissions for books, magazines and public health education campaigns, as well as work within and for public libraries. Josef is now making his work available online for the first time.




Freelance work/Comissions

 Theatre Royal Stratford London, London Festival of Literature, Spirit Magazine, Balbury Publishing, Smoke Busters Magazine, Citizens Advice Bureau, Centerprise Literature Project, Kate Greenaway Library, Newham Education, City & East London Health Authority, Trojan Horse, Hackney Libraries Under Fives Project, The Hump Club Night London, Wire Magazine, Brook Advisory Service, London Borough of Islington, Hackney Staying Out Project, Out In Leisure Southwark, SMS Design, H.Lam: Singapore, Skylark Gallery, R. Hanslik Los Angeles, Channel 4 Television (4 Learning), Stamford University California, John Harvard Library Southwark

 

 

Exhibitions

1985 East Ham College, London

1986/7 Kate Greenaway library, London

1988 The London Institute, Central St Martins

1989 Wire Magazine Jazz awards, Scala London

1992 Centerprise project, London

1994 Stoke Newington Gallery, London

1996 Baiik Gallery, Deptford London

1997 Spirit Magazine ‘Erotic Gallery’, Covent Garden London

1997 S.N.A.P Xmas Open, Stoke Newington London

1998 Black History Month exhibition, Clapton library London

1998/9 Alternative Arts, Spitalfields, London

1999 Bistro II Oxo Tower, Southbank London

2000 Alternative Arts, Spitalfields, London

2001 Skylark Gallery, Southbank London

2001 Alternative Arts, Spitalfields, London

2001 John Harvard library, London

2002 Stoke Newington gallery, London

2006 Brunswick Surgery, Hove

2007 Ostraka open house, Brighton

2007 Brunswick Surgery, Hove

2009 PBK09, Jubilee library, Brighton

2009 Contribution: Black history Month exhibition, Brighton

2010 PBK2010, Jubilee library, Brighton