Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Joyo.
Hi Oscar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It sounds stereotypical but I’ve been drawing since I could remember. My folks say that I would constantly draw on walls or anything I could get my hands on. When I immigrated to the US from Malawi, I got exposed to anime and video games which inspired me to express my creativity. As I got to high school, my instructors inspired me to pursue an art degree and career which I ended up pursuing.
I immediately moved to Chicago for college, gaining new forms of expression as well as a community to be a part of. Fast forward from college and working odd jobs, I found my voice being in the scene and in various shows in Chicago. Like I stated earlier, my community of friends and artists were the catalyst and influenced in wanting to do art on my own terms. Now three years in as a full-time artist, I’ve worked with galleries and institutions that I’ve dreamt of working with since I was young and got into doing mural work and illustrations.
I’m happy to be doing what I love and I hope to keep improving as I go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
(Laughs) My artistic journey has been, like most of us, anything but smooth. The earliest struggle that comes to mind is when I was in art school. I was so focused on perfecting my technique, that by the time I graduated and was ready to pursue art as a career, I had drawn a blank as to what my actual subject matter would be. It took a long time to find my voice, to realize what felt natural and challenging for me. Once I found my voice, then the struggle became about exposure. I have a decent network and following now, but when you’re straight out of college and the world seems limitless, it can be difficult to take those first steps to put yourself out there. As I got older, I’ve acknowledged my mental health which I used to put on the back burner. I’m thankful that I’ve found ways to cope or at least made sure I don’t buckle under the weight of anxiety.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’d say my work is categorized as Afrofuturism/Afrosurrealism with an emphasis on Fauvist elements. I’m also heavily inspired by anime and music which I pay homage to or display easter eggs within my work. My perception of Blackness is expressed with my bold colour choices, patterns, and hairstyles. A lot of the work that people have seen is an extension of who I am and how I perceive the world around me. Recently, I branched out into incorporating figures and backgrounds to conjure narratives and characters like the artists that inspire me. I’m still learning new skills and adapting other art forms so I can tell my own stories or at least make realities that I could only paint more tangible.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I wish I could say what that quality is exactly (laughs) but if I could pick it might be determination. In any of our lifetimes, we will deal with so much failure that would keep oneself from trying but it’s failing forward and trying again. I’ve had moments back then and even now where I wanted to throw in the towel but I’m determined to succeed or break through. Some pieces that didn’t work out, opportunities lapsed, or whatever issue is (waiting until 30 to get my driver’s license), having the determination to achieve that goal helps.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oscarjoyoart.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscar_joyo
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/oscarjoyo
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/oscarjoyo
Image Credits
LUSH-Matt Wenc (@wencphoto)
