Jozua Gerrard

🔳 Jozua Gerrard a contemporary artist born in 2001 in Cape Town, South Africa, seamlessly navigates the intersection of existentialism and nihilism in his artistic expression. Exploring themes such as mental health, religion, sexual identity, and urban youth culture, Gerrard draws inspiration from his personal experiences, offering viewers "little windows into people’s existence" through his work.

Initiating his artistic journey at the tender age of 10, Gerrard found solace and a creative outlet, transforming his evolving craft into a vital coping mechanism. Reflecting on this transformative process, he notes, "As I grew up, I could pour out all of the feelings, which I didn’t have the vocabulary to express, into these constructs, and it gave me a new perspective on self-worth."

Contrasting the disquiet portrayed in his paintings, Gerrard's use of vivid and intoxicating colors introduces a captivating duality, a recurring theme in his practice. His art encapsulates contradictions—bold yet ethereal, carnal yet innocent, menacing yet tender.

A distinctive motif in Gerrard's work is the bright, horned mask, imbued with multiple symbolic meanings. Describing it as an effort to reclaim 'primitivism' from colonialist appropriation, he situates it within the context of everyday contemporary life. The mask becomes a tool for individuals to obscure or redefine their identities, allowing them to embody multiple facets simultaneously. Gerrard elucidates, "It’s like you’re saying ‘It’s me, but I’m still hiding,’" acknowledging that the masked figures, whether male or female, serve as projections of his own fluidity, challenging societal labels and norms.

The mask, prominently featured in Gerrard's imaginary world, becomes a supernatural entity, offering a protective shield against both external and internal emotions. It renders the wearer faceless, non-specific, and emotionless, granting access to a new reality crafted by Gerrard.

Gerrard's artistic journey has been showcased in prestigious venues, including exhibitions at WorldArt in Cape Town and the Turbine Art Fair in Johannesburg. His inaugural solo exhibition, titled "Loveland," took place at Southern Guild in 2021, and his work now resides in the collection of the Pérez Art Museum Miami. Southern Guild has further presented his creations at Untitled Art in Miami and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair.

Notably, in 2022, Gerrard collaborated with BMW South Africa on a laser projection project, leveraging his artistic prowess to promote the BMW M Series.

🤑 Average price for an artwork as of December 2023: $5000-10000

More art: Dicecream Instagram

Curator: iraira.me