NETFLIX
PORTRAIT OF A TOP BOY
SEPTEMBER 2023
SOMERSET HOUSE
PORTRAIT OF A TOP BOY: “SULLY”
Curated by multi-disciplinary artist Ronan McKenzie and presented by Netflix, this pop-up exhibition commemorates the cultural impact that Top Boy has had on British television, in both its representation of life on the estates of east London, and its support and mentoring of emerging British talent.
The exhibition features newly commissioned paintings by 16 UK based established and emerging Black artists, with each portrait depicting an iconic character from the series - Sully (Kane Robinson), Dushane (Ashley Walters), Jaq (Jasmine Jobson), Stefan (Araloyin Oshunremi), Jamie (Michael Ward), Shelley (Simbiatu Ajikawo / Little Simz), Dris (Shone Romulus) and Modie (David Omoregie / Dave).
Through their individual approaches, each artist explores their personal relationship with a chosen character, the series, and the idea of what it means to be a Top Boy.
experience the GUCCI COSMOS EXHIBITION featuring work by joshua donkor, “carousel”
11 October - 31 December 2023
180 Studios, London
A sequence of outfits. A fashion show that neither portrays a collection nor a season, but rather how Gucci has managed to mark the rhythm of the times and to craft its image throughout a long and storied history.
"Carousel" is a sort of magic lantern that alludes to the dream of fashion; the reverie that creates obsessive desires and that becomes a narrative description of each of us in the performative space between body and dress. It is a fantasy of clothes that simply flows before our eyes, one in which we can equally recognise a part of us and of our history.
"Carousel" is the euphoria of waiting to enter the party-the anticipation of that reciprocal pageantry of looking and being looked at. Carousel is a collective red carpet that recounts the work of various creative directors, as well as a timeline that is created through evolutions also comprising temporal accords with the past.
"Carousel" is a spectacle that brings together and materialises before our eyes the many designs that we have only seen online, in magazines, in museums, or worn by actors, singers, and personalities on various occasions- immediately reconstructing the syntax of our life and our history.
"The Professor. I have more souls than one"(2023), oil, graphite, image transfers on circular board, 70 x 70cm Joshua Donkor was selected as 1 of 3 finalists in the Royal British Artist Society's Rising Star 2023 exhibition. He and the remaining finalists were hand-picked from this year's 40 exhibiting artists, and his work in particular was chosen for its display of skill, strength and creativity.
The selected artists were chosen from applicants from around the UK by the RBA Selection Committee, including Robin Footitt, Royal Over-Seas League Visual Arts Curator. Joshua's painting 'The Professor. I have more souls than one' (2023) is currently on display at the RBA's Rising Stars exhibition in the Central Lounge of ROSL Clubhouse, London until 2 July 2023.
The Bankside Hotel Residency with Degree Art Residency
Joshua Donkor was welcomed as a resident into the Art Yard Studio in collaboration with Bankside Hotel and Contemporary Collective from the end of October through the new year. Joshua worked on his signature artistic process of visual narration in which he looks at people and stories as the main inspiration for his work.
Whilst in the studio, Joshua developed, ‘I Have More Souls Than One', which seeks to explore transcultural and African Diasporic experiences in the Western world and how this is felt through the different generations of family. Joshua describes the inspiration behind this concept.
“This project stemmed from my most recent journey back to Ghana at the start of 2022 with my cousin. As we have grown older our relationship with Ghana has continued to evolve. 2022 represented somewhat of a passing of the torch as my cousin was expected to take on more responsibilities within her family. This brought into focus many questions about our relationship and connection to Ghana as members of the African Diaspora. Although we have grown up with many Ghanaian cultural influences within our lives, unlike our parents and those before, we have not grown up there. This has led to a feeling of slight disconnection from our heritage, felt most notably whenever we return."
Solo show with the Bankside Hotel and Degree Art : Featuring “I Have More Souls Than One” January 2023
Solo show with the Bankside Hotel and Degree Art : Featuring “I Have More Souls Than One” January 2023
Solo show with the Bankside Hotel and Degree Art : Featuring “I Have More Souls Than One” January 2023
Solo show with the Bankside Hotel and Degree Art : Featuring “I Have More Souls Than One” January 2023
Skin and Masks
Curated by Vic Mensa at The Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago, June 2022.
Skin and Masks, curated by Vic Mensa at The Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago, June 2022
Skin and Masks, curated by Vic Mensa at The Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago, June 2022
Features/Awards
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2023
Young Masters, Highly Commended Prize
RBA Rising stars finalist
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2022
Commissioned artists for “The World Reimagined”
Tate Collective commission
Selected for the Holburne Artist Residency
Shortlisted for The Signature Art Prize
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2021
Interview on Private View, Soho radio with Maeve Doyle
Selected to feature in the documentary series “The Next Big Thing” and awarded the Judges Prize
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2020
Recipient of the Artist Benevolent Fund Step Change Program Fellowship
Winner of the AOI Member Awards and a “Highly Commended Award” in World Illustration Awards
Selected to feature in Sky Portrait Artist of the Year
Featured in The AOI 10 UK Graduates to watch.
The Blue Stag Top 10 Creative Graduates in Wales
Featured Artwork in BBC’S “Staged”
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2019
Turner Trophy awarded for painting “Fading memories” exhibited at the Mayor of Bath Exhibition
