Josh Foy's Biography

Education

• 2002    B.F.A.   Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio

Solo Exhibitions

• 2009, Side Effects May Include – North Gallery, Oxford Ohio

• 2008, Layers – East Gallery, Oxford, Ohio

• 2007, Decay - East Gallery, Oxford, Ohio
• 2000, Exploration – Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio

Juried Group Exhibitions

• 2008, OSF Show – Cox Arts Building, Columbus, Ohio, Jurors:  Michael Ferris Jr. Professional artist and Tim Portlock, film professor at Hunter College

• 2008, Best of, Ohio Designer Craftsman -  Ohio Designer Craftsman Gallery, Columbus, Ohio, Juror: Brion Clinkingbeard Curator of the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft

• 2008, 3^rd International Small Teapot Competition -  Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, California, Juror Guangzhen Zhou professional artist and writer

• 2007, NCECA Regional Juried Show -  Pittsburg Center for the Arts, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Jurors: Kristen Kieffer, instructor at the Worcester Center for Crafts and Alleghany Meadows, professional artist and gallery owner

Group Exhibitions

• 2008, Undecided – North Gallery, Oxford, Ohio

• 2008, Oxford to Oxford –  Power House Community Arts Center, Oxford, Mississippi

• 1999, Future Tense – Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio

• 1998, Clay and Glass Guild – Student Center Gallery Columbus College of Art and Design Student Center, Columbus, Ohio

• 1996 – 2000, Exceptional Works – Canzani Center Gallery, Featuring the best student works at the end of each year, Columbus, Ohio

Josh Foy's Artist Statement

  The conceptual inspiration for my ceramic and mixed media work is derived from my reaction to contemporary events and political decision making.  The work is my visual interpretation of events such as war, energy consumption, outsourcing, imports, environmental concerns, and recession through the combination of associated objects and iconography.  This approach allows me to make an immediate statement about a specific event or situation, while at the same time remaining somewhat ambiguous as to which side of the fence I stand.   The intent of the work is to evoke conflicting emotional responses within the viewer and perhaps make them question their own views regarding these events.

  The work is an infusion of traditional ceramic tile and mosaic techniques, with the more contemporary use of mixed media, found objects, and assemblage to create reliefs.  The use of ceramics allows me to refine and manipulate objects, and through the slip casting process mass produce them.  Industrial mass production and consumerism are themes throughout my work that are conceptually heightened by infusing my own mass produced ceramic objects.  The mixed media component of my work allows me to achieve details, scales, shapes, and textures that are impossible or far too time consuming through the ceramic process.  Actual objects typically bring with them a sense of familiarity or nostalgia that can act as a bridge into the work and heighten the believability of the ceramic components.

 The work is also an examination of historical ceramics and explores traditional and contemporary techniques.  In the piece Made in China Too I have constructed the United States flag out of children’s toys that possibly contain lead and ceramic casts of children’s toys that are lead glazed.  Historically lead was used in ceramic utilitarian ware and its caustic affects were unknown.  Referencing this historical use of lead in ceramics to address the contemporary issue of lead painted children’s toys in Made in China Too further enriches the content.          

Although the work is based on serious contemporary world events, I incorporate slightly humorous elements such as lights, sound, and toys.  Fusing seriousness and humor in the work creates the emotional conflict within the viewer that I find causes them to question their own position on these events.  The element of humor also keeps the work from becoming to politically charged, which narrows my audience.   Ultimately the work is serious, yet at the same time a sarcastic, ironic, and satirical response to the events and political situations that are defining contemporary America.