What an incredible time this has been working with such diverse group of talented and award-winning artists. Do view them on the ARTIST page of our website. We just wanted to start off working with a selected few and gradually add more.
Today on our social media platforms we are featuring the young artist with dynamic impact Joshua Donkor. The award-winning 27 year old Ghanaian-British painter uses portraiture as a tool to subvert monolithic portrayals of Black identity.
We are most enthusiastic to represent the talented Joshua. He has just been awarded the prestigious Royal Society of British Artist Rome Scholarship and is already a member of the Contemporary British portrait Painters Society. In the last two years selected to exhibit at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and awarded Highly Commended sponsored by the de Laszlo Foundation, in the 2024 exhibition.
I first became friends with Joshua when presenting the Next Big Thing TV prime-time series for artists between 17-30 during the pandemic - featured on London Live TV and British Airways. He was a winner in the 'Portraiture' category and was mentored in the series by royal artist Miriam Escofet.
The subject matters in his paintings are deeply personal and completely idiosyncratic—often having to deal with specific African roots and the individual experiences specific people who have had growing up Black in Western societies—all types of viewers have been able to respond deeply to the images. Somehow, widely relatable content is communicated through the specificity of the images. This is so relevant for a rich diverse city such as London as 41% of the population here were born outside the UK (source: Trust for London).
As an art critic presenter and collector of many years, one of the most asked questions I receive is about the artists who I collect and why. The key issue is to always select a work of art because it resonates and 'speaks' in such a way with you - in other words you love it.
This is an excellent time to acquire works by Joshua Donkor as I predict this young artist will achieve much in life - and so many of us love his work!
All the best
James
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