Joseph Olisaemeka Wilson

Joseph Olisaemeka Wilson (b.1999, Los Angeles, USA) lives and works in New York, USA. 

Wilson's polymorphic practice draws references from American popular culture, modern art and African folklore, largely exploring themes related to colonialism, archaeology and futurism, the artist collapses these narratives to create immersive universes where exoskeletons, humans, machines, animals and spirits joust or ritual dance in a syncretism that testifies to the artist's overflowing imagination.

Wilson says: “I don’t have any narrative goal in mind as I work, although there are characters who do reappear. More often, the story writes itself as the characters and elements are introduced. These characters, and any of the content in the paintings, are part of a language that I use to write the scene. I expect these to change and develop over time.”

Recent exhibitions include: Songs About War, Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA (2024); After me, the flood, Derek Eller Gallery, New York City (2022); Everything goes scatter, Tiwani Contemporary, London, UK (2022); OMG (how to find God), Fergus McCaffrey, St. Barth (2022); Seven/Seven, Fergus McCaffrey, Tokyo (2022); Olisaemeka, Simchowitz Gallery, Los Angeles (2021); Poetic Sustenance, Tiwani Contemporary, London (2021); Jaga-Jaga, Freedom Gallery, New York, NY (2021); Diaspora, Jac Forbes Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2020); Open Call 2020 - Winners Exhibition, Delphian Gallery, London, UK (2020); The Edge of Chaos, The Newsstand Project x Autre Magazine, Los Angeles, CA (2020); Summer Group Show, 824 South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 9 (2019).