Joshua Michael Adokuru, born 1999 in Suleja, Nigeria, is a self-taught artist who started with hyperrealism in 2017. He graduated with a bachelors in computer science from the National Open University of Nigeria (N. O. U. N) Abuja in 2022.

He found his voice in using his current medium just 4 years ago - working in strings, nails and acrylic on board, which he uses to represent Black human figures. "I try to show how beautiful and significant the Black melanin is so I use unusual mediums to make that happen.”

Joshua started drawing in 2017 for his first portrait commission, which made him believe in a future for him in art. “My environment and people around me inspired me to paint. I love to capture the facial expression of the people I paint (create) because facial expressions are a form of nonverbal communication. I've had many memorable responses to my work which motivate me to push myself further. In my works I try to convey how I saw the emotional state of the individual to the observers.”

The Beauty and Talent of Joshua Michael Adokuru's work, self taught artist from Abuja, Nigeria, who truly has taken “string art” to a totally different level! He is a computer scientist, but art is his true passion.
What has always spoken to me as a curator, collector and gallerist in the almost 4yrs I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Josh is his sensitivity that is clearly visible in his work. His subjects are primarily young children and youth, portrayed with love and tenderness.
Needless to say one can see his admiration for amongst others @bisabutler reflected in his work.

A video of his work and process here

Recent press:

Cultbytes 1-54’s African Artists to Watch and Their Hybrid Approaches to Textiles in 2024

Solo presentation at 1-54 African Contemporary Art Fair New York, May 2024

Group Exhibitions:

2021: BLACK EXCELLENCE/BLACK ELEGANCE, Miami Art Basel, Ross-Sutton Gallery

2021: “SAY IT LOUD (Visionaries of Self)" pt.2, curated by Destinee Ross-Sutton, Christie’s, New York, USA

2020/2021: “Black Voices: Friend of My Mind” Ross-Sutton Gallery, NY, USA

2020: "SAY IT LOUD (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" curated by Destinee Ross-Sutton, Christie’s, New York, USA

2020: "Diaspora Unite! Artists of African Descent Benefit Auction Exhibition", Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), San Francisco, CA, USA

Collections:

Amoako Boafo, Accra, Ghana

Fidelity Investments Corporate Art Collection

Pierce & Hill Harper Foundation, Detroit, USA

Black Artist Foundation, New York, USA

Dr Joy Simmons, Los Angeles, USA

David Simkins, Miami, USA

Michael Elmenbeck, Stockholm, Sweden