Lost Conversations

Opening Reception    December 2nd, 2023    4pm-6pm
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Show runs from -
December 2nd, 2023 - February 3rd, 2024
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​​​​​(Click above image for press kit)​

​Artist - Josef Kardell

Statement

Although I painted consistently & privately pre-pandemic, the lockdown of 2020 ushered in a new era of daily painting practice & exposure. Struggling as we all did to transition from social life to isolation, I started using painting for its mental health benefits. The  visceral nature of painting in an abstract style attracted me, as the final presentation of the piece mattered less than the soothing yet energetic action of creating art. As the canvasses filled up, and closets began to overflow with finished pieces, I opened an online  shop and began sharing this art with a broader community. Over time, I realized that my interactions with the canvas were becoming “Lost Conversations” - in a sense replacing times with friends & family that were dearly missed by us all during that tough isolated time. While daily life has returned to normal, I still visit the canvas to express myself in ways that can’t be expressed socially. Every artist has a relationship with their materials, and it’s a sacred bond  with something inanimate, yet somehow exuding life.

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Biography

Josef Kardell was born on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts into an artistic family, and has been creating  from a young age. Whether it was drawing with his mom, making music with his friends, or  shooting short films on a VHS camcorder with his brothers, Josef’s youth was a non-stop  exploration in creativity. By the end of high school, Josef’s passion for music lead him to  obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Peabody Institute of Music in 2012.  Since then, Josef has been living in Baltimore City, teaching & performing music, exhibiting  original artwork, making short films, and recently has become a fitness trainer as well. 

Website - ​​https://josefkardellart.bigcartel.com/​
​Instagram - ​​https://www.instagram.com/josef_creates/