We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joshua Kight. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joshua below.

Joshua, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk about innovation. What’s the most innovative thing you’ve done in your career?

the most innovative thing I’ve done in my career is to expand my paintings out to the third dimension (which makes them appealing from the peripheral view as well as straight on), and added poetry that interacts with the images either by a reading I do at the openings or by being imbedded in the image or in some cases graphically designed to hang beside the image. My latest paintings use dark backgrounds and imagery derived from space which I integrate with figures or just faces. The use of these planet-faces allows me to express very human feelings and dilemmas. One example is “Middle aged planet devouring itself” . As part of the planet we ‘are’ devouring the planet and mostly ourselves with our destruction and pollution of it (us).

Joshua, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a painter, draughtsman and poet. My work frequently raises a ruckus with the color combinations I use and the subjects that I explore. My latest paintings are my best yet I believe at bringing depth to my content. I believe my work will last in the long haul as an expression both ‘timeless and time-ful. I interact with myths present and past and find poetry in observed facts as well. My imagery connects people with the vast spaces and matter that we are made with in a way that is totally unique. I have used Saturn several times. Saturn is the root word for “Saturnine” which is a kind of melancholy, dark, moody and mysterious. One of the triptychs I created has watercolors called “Saturnine Saturday” I, II , and III. The mood of the paintings fits the Paradoxical title . Saturnine being sad and Saturdays being associated with recreation.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started making paintings and writing poetry I thought that the works of art came from within. Because of that I think in the beginning I was insular. As I have gotten older I realize that if you put your antenna up there is an infinite number of subjects, ideas and helpful influences. The world is filtered through you as a creative person and you in turn provoke, inspire and teach others. It’s a marvelous dance the best kind there is.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My exhibitions and social media are my best source of clients. It’s important to think of art as an act of communication. If you address your fellow humans you are entering into community with them and they with you. It is not always about being harmonic sometimes you have to be more like sandpaper to get at a reaction which tangles , troubles , embraces and ultimately inspires your audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joshkight.com
• Instagram: @joshuakight
• Facebook: Joshua Richardson Kight
• Linkedin: Joshua Kight

Image Credits
All photos by Joshua Kight