Joshua Elias

American artist Joshua Elias was born in Chicago but lives and works in Los Angeles, where he creates oil paintings that are bursting with life and colour. Joshua is a multidisciplinary artist, working with writing and poetry as well as the visual arts, and this diversity of approach can be seen throughout his abstract art, with humorous or poetic titles that add an extra dimension to the work. He tends to use raw materials such as linen in his work, creating a tactile and multisensory feel. Spirituality is a recurrent theme throughout his paintings, which often focus on uncovering ancient locations that hold religious significance.

Joshua Elias’ Career

Joshua has studied in institutes across California, first completing a BFA from San Diego State University before going on to Otis Parsons in Los Angeles. Since then he has developed his style of abstract painting, and he was an apprentice to the painting master Sylvana Barrett, a consultant at the Getty Museum. What’s more, he has completed a residency at the Fundación Valparaiso in Andalucia, Spain.

Recognition and Awards

Joshua’s figurative and abstract art has earned him numerous honours across his career, including inclusion in the art collection at the RAND corporation and the TED.com Kohler Home for the Future. He has received several private and public commissions, and even sold an artwork to the president of Iceland in 2017.