Mario Joyce

Works

Mario Joyce: Gravitational Collapse

Gravitational Collapse

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, ink and oil on canvas

61 x 76.2 cm

24 x 30 in

Mario Joyce: Gravitational Constant

Gravitational Constant

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, ink and oil on canvas

61 x 76.2 cm

24 x 30 in

Mario Joyce: Eclipse

Eclipse

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, ink and oil on canvas

76.2 x 61 cm

30 x 24 in

Mario Joyce: Outside In (The Spider)

Outside In (The Spider)

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

50.8 x 40.6 cm

20 x 16 in

Mario Joyce: A Light Change (The Moth)

A Light Change (The Moth)

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

40.6 x 50.8 cm

16 x 20 in

Mario Joyce: Akin (Monarch)

Akin (Monarch)

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

50.8 x 40.6 cm

20 x 16 in

Mario Joyce: I Fell Above My Body (Cicada)

I Fell Above My Body (Cicada)

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

40.6 x 50.8 cm

16 x 20 in

Mario Joyce: Together In Space (Cricket)

Together In Space (Cricket)

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

40.6 x 50.8 cm

16 x 20 in

Mario Joyce: In The Form Of

In The Form Of

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

121.9 x 91.4 cm

48 x 36 in

Mario Joyce: Pass Through Me

Pass Through Me

Painting

2023

Vintage collage, soil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink and oil on canvas

152.4 x 121.9 cm

60 x 48 in


Bio

Mario Joyce is a self-taught African-American artist based in Los Angeles. His process began early and was heavily influenced by prejudices experienced growing up Black and Queer in rural Ohio. He uses genealogical research, soil from South West Ohio, carefully sourced vintage collage materials and oil paint to explore how American History is steeped in selective storytelling that neglects to share the experiences of marginalized communities. Mario has recently completed Pratt>FORWARD residency at New Lab in Brooklyn Navy Yard and exhibited with UTA Artspace in Atlanta . His work is privately owned by collectors throughout the United States and abroad

Artist Statement

Paralleling my experiences as a Queer, Black boy growing up in rural Ohio to those of my direct male ancestors is integral in my practice. I begin with genealogical research, collecting stories and supporting these narratives with primary records. I then source vintage collage images from used books printed between 1965-1999, specifically nodding to my grandfathers’ generation and my earliest memories of them. These vintage images are of natural scenes and elements, space, stars and mysterious heavenly bodies. I compile them within the Black male figure on canvas. These figures are avatars of me, meant to represent specific male ancestors. Then, using a thick impasto technique with oil paint, I recreate scenes from my childhood farm. In the surrounding fields and forests there was solace from constant racial and homophobic attacks. Connecting to my ancestors in these fields, they guided and strengthened me from a very early age. If they could survive the impossible, surely I could tap that very strength, which must still exist in my veins. This enters my practice through varying brushstrokes that speak like a language or a script. Using old brushes, the movement of paint across the canvas retells chosen narratives continuously in my mind. Recently, soil collected from my childhood farm has been included in the paint to further connect to the space and, in a way, record all that it has witnessed. Within this investigative process, it is possible to find new ways of healing my own generational and personal trauma.

Solo Exhibitions

2023

2022

Group Exhibitions

2023

2022

2021

2020


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