Artist Joseph Taylor was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and currently attends the Maryland Institute College of Art. He majors in general fine arts and chooses to focus on areas such as painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Artist Statement
My art straddles the line between illustration and realism. My goal as an artist has always been to combine the two in a unique and aesthetically pleasing way. My work explores the human figure, environments, and color. Through observation of both real life and photographic sources, I aim to produce work that combines elements that feel real and grounded while also including certain whimsical aspects. This usually takes form through work focusing on portraiture and the human body. In some cases, I find a way to branch off of, and expand on this by taking what I learn from figurative explorations and transforming it to reflect a modern comics and animation style. This is mainly apparent in the drawings I do in my free time that showcase character and background design.
Recently, my art has become a tool, not only used to express myself, but to reflect and grow from my personal experiences. I'm interested in the fine line between the pain and pleasure we associate with nostalgia. My work discusses change and the way we choose to navigate it as growing individuals.