Words by Tabitha Celeste Barbour
Images provided by Joshua AM Ross
The first thing you notice about Joshua AM Ross is that he is shy and kind with a contagious, toothy smile. Ross’s work is abstract. Whimsical with images of limbs jetting out from garments and structures. On a warm and rainy August afternoon, he took me on an intellectual deep dive through his methodical and technical approach to combining his two passions: photography and drawing.
Tabitha Celeste Barbour: What is your story? How long have you been practicing?
Joshua AM Ross: I grew up in Indianapolis. I first discovered art as a child when visiting my cousins’ school. I saw the art on the walls and was like, “Wow, I want to do that!” I remember asking my mom if I could enroll in art school. From elementary school to high school, I loved being in art class. I enjoyed working with pastels. I studied photography. I received my Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography from the Herron School of Art and my Master of Fine Art in Art from the University of California, Irvine. I have been practicing art for 12 years.
TCB: What role has art played in your life?
JAMR: Art has played a practical role in my life. It has helped me secure things in my life that have helped me connect to what is most human. It also served as a religious element in my life. I am devoted to my practice, and I spend the majority of my energy and time thinking about it. There would be a void in my life without art. My practice helps me to show up as my best self.
TCB: What inspires you to create?
JAMR: Inspiration has never been the motivation. The art itself is the inspiration for me. Sometimes I get inklings of where I should go next. Most of the time I am showing up and trying. Then, something emerges. I question it. Then, I go for it. Nothing else inspires me, but art.
TCB: How do you describe your style?
JAMR: My work is a marriage of multiple things. Texture is a forward element. Some materials are laying against others. There is structure and fluid, and I like working with contrasting elements that embody my style. My style is more restricted because I am working with certain tools to explore photography through the medium of drawing.
TCB: What do you mean by your drawings are in conversation with photography?
JAMR: One aspect of the drawing is that there are a lot of layers of color. This is the experience of time and how exposure works in the camera’s aperture. I layer colors in a prismatic way and think about how much light is allowed to enter a camera. I am thinking about when I can shoot or pull the shutter. It feels more analog. It’s not a photograph; it will never be. There is this aspect of failure but there is an effort to produce an image in a certain way that I am committed to.
TCB: There is a recurring appearance of the bodily limbs throughout your work. What captivates you about the human body? Why does this imagery appear again and again?
JAMR: I am perplexed by the body. In my work, the body is always emerging from a structure or it is tethered to other elements in the work. It is always the last element that I include.
The body is always in the background. We sense through it. However, we cannot fully bring our bodies forward in our experiences. I am giving the flesh space not to witness itself. I am giving it space to be made up of everything and nothing at all. The body is encoded in so much.
TCB: What are your aspirations for your career as an artist?
JAMR: I would like to start an artist residency. My vision is to have a space where artists can share ideas and have their own studio space. I would like for there to be a gallery space for artists to share their work. I also would like to start an art collection. This would allow me to support other artists directly. I am also working on establishing a daily art practice. Art is a real part of my life. As I continue to build my career, I want to contribute to the art ecosystem by supporting other artists in discovering and developing their voices.
TCB: What are your thoughts on BUTTER? What does it mean for you to be a part of the BUTTER Art Fair?
JAMR: I appreciate BUTTER as a place that brings artists together. I am excited about the opportunity to get to know other artists. The BUTTER Art Fair is great because it is an equitable art fair. It is an opportunity for artists to generate revenue from their work and to be introduced to a new audience.
TCB: What is one thing you want people to know about your work?
JAMR: I want people to know they can trust themselves. I want people to feel like my work is open to them.
In addition to his work on BUTTER, Ross was featured in a solo exhibition, STREAKIN’ this month in Los Angeles, CA at the Wönzimer Gallery. In addition, you can find Ross’ work on display at the Headstone Gallery in Kingston, NY until August 27. This is a joint exhibition with artist Judd Schiffman titled “A Sackful of Seeds.”
To stay connected with Joshua AM Ross, follow him on:
Instagram: @joshuaamr
Website: joshuaamross.com
