Tate Cafe, 2018, 51 x 53 inches, charcoal and chalk on paper

This week we welcome Joshua Rosenblatt, a visual artist based in Queens, New York. Joshua was born into a family of artists. His mother did performance art and poetry, and his father was a sculpture and art professor. Joshua has always been surrounded by art, observing people and noticing the small visual details that might be missed by others. He finds excitement even with the most ordinary elements. Living and making art in Queens, for over 25 years, he has relished the mundane row houses, and thrived off the energy of the community. 

Speedy’s Deli 32nd St #2, 2020, 62 x 75 inches, charcoal, pastel, watercolor on paper

“I spend time observing details, with long second looks, to see what I missed at the first glance. Observing people, noticing how they interact, comforts and discomforts. How am I like others and how am I different?”

“I work in series format around different themes. One of these is People in Public, a group of large scale drawings that looks at how people interact: family dynamics over a cup of coffee, boredom in waiting rooms, or  tense back-and-forth that they wish were not happening in public.”

Hotel Room #39 Chicago, 2020, 38 x 50 inches, charcoal and pastel on paper

“Another group of drawings is titled Hotel Rooms. Although this series has no people in the imagery, it is about the people that are not there. Hotel rooms are “sets” using many “props” to make a space for the guest to be comfortable. Some of these spaces appear to be bland and forgettable, others are made to feel elegant and chic, but it is very hard to hide from the traveler that they are living on a “set”.



Astoria Row House, wax, plaster and metal

“Another series consists of sculptures made of wax and plaster and metal. They speak of the relationship between people and their surrounding architecture. Inspired by the monotonous identical row houses in Queens where I live. Looking at how we relate to each other and the settings we place ourselves in, gives me an overflowing amount of source material that keeps me observing and reflecting.”

See more of the artist’s work on his website and Instagram page.

Nitin is a visual designer, gallery artist, and community arts activist. Past desk-oriented posts include: PBS, Digitas, K12, Inc., Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and Sesame Workshop International....

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