Tile graphic reading "Artist Spotlight: Josh" on a black background, next to a photo of Josh smiling in front of a large pair of colourful mixed media wings made from painted feather shapes, with the Mai-Wel logo in the top right corner.

Mai-Wel Artist Spotlight: Josh 

At Mai-Wel, our Creative Arts programs give people the space to explore, create and progress their artistic skills, whether that’s one on one or in a group setting. 

We’d like to introduce one of our talented participant artists, Josh, an emerging artist whose practice is grounded in lived experience and connection with others. 

Exploring the Human Experience 

Josh maintains a sustained and regular studio practice, working primarily in graphite, coloured pencil and marker to create expressive, layered works. His focus is portraiture and character-based imagery, using these mediums to explore the human experience. 

Through conversation and observation, Josh develops visual responses he calls “inner beasts”, playful yet personal interpretations of an individual’s inner world that reflect their strengths, complexity and identity. 

“My work balances honesty and playfulness,” Josh explains, drawing on both personal experience and pop culture to shape his visual language. 

Coloured pencil artwork by Josh titled Inner Beasts, featuring five caricature style portraits of his support workers, each drawn as an exaggerated character with a name labelled beside them, surrounded by playful decorative motifs like bees, flowers and a spear.
Coloured pencil drawing by Josh titled Art History, a reinterpretation of the Mona Lisa with warm autumn toned hair and a landscape background of hills and a lake.
Coloured pencil mural concept by Josh titled My Surf Life Saving, depicting a beach scene with a surf lifesaving clubhouse, flags, a figure holding a rescue tube, dolphins and birds in a bright, colourful summer setting.
Two coloured pencil and marker logo concepts by Josh, one reading "Empowered Community Services" surrounded by fruit and vegetable illustrations, and the other featuring a grid of small icons including water, fire, light, sky and a wheelchair user, alongside characters.

A Growing Practice 

Josh’s practice is supported through regular studio engagement at Mai-Wel, alongside independent work he’s developed outside of structured sessions. This has allowed him to build a consistent and evolving body of work, while continuing to experiment with style and technique. 

Since 2020, Josh has also built an independent art practice, creating original works that explore portraiture and character while experimenting with materials, style and visual storytelling.  

Since 2023, he’s taken this further through Redbubble, selling more than 70 print on demand products including apparel and accessories, and developing an online storefront and digital portfolio along the way. 

Looking Ahead 

Josh is committed to refining his visual language and developing his practice further, with the goal of presenting his work in professional contexts and connecting with broader audiences.  

His goals include exhibiting in a gallery setting, building his technical and conceptual skills, developing confidence presenting and discussing his work publicly, and expanding his professional networks within the arts industry. 

Mai-Wel’s Social, Community and Creative Pathways programs provide an avenue for people to explore, create and progress their creative skills, extending arts practice and access for artists with disability. 

We’re proud to support artists like Josh in building his practice and sharing his story with the wider community.

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