Josef Isaiah Keyes, originally from Washington, D.C., and now residing in Baltimore, Maryland, draws inspiration from introspection. His abstract mixed-media artworks delve into profound themes such as beauty, self-discovery, and the intricate connection between the mind, body, and soul.

Josef Isaiah has made significant strides in contemporary art by participating in numerous group exhibitions. His debut solo exhibition in 2023 at Foundry Gallery in the heart of Washington, D.C., was a notable milestone in his artistic journey, showcasing his innovative and introspective creations. Currently, Josef Isaiah is furthering his practice by pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

ARTIST STATEMENT 

My work is a dialogue between awareness and the unconscious—an intuitive unfolding through automatic gestures of color and form. Each piece is a meditation, a conversation layered through mind, body, and spirit. I work primarily in abstraction, allowing mixed media to give voice to a personal vocabulary of vibrant color, expressive texture, and forms that alternate between harmony and chaos.

Inspired by artists like Alma Thomas, I strive to create work that offers beauty and happiness as a kind of spiritual refuge—art that holds space for contemplation, healing, and joy. “Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness…” she said—and I carry that ethos forward, especially in a world too often shaped by disconnection and division.

As a self-taught artist who returned to formal study, I approach life and art with an unrestrained curiosity and a drive to explore the full scope of my human potential. My practice has become a path of transformation—a way to align mind, body, and spirit into a singular, expressive instrument. Through this, my work becomes a mirror: a reflection of self-discovery, resilience, and wonder.

I create to better understand myself, and in doing so, invite others to do the same. Each piece is both personal and universal—a collage of thoughts, struggles, and breakthroughs from my lived experience, particularly as a young Black man navigating the layered complexities of identity and existence in society. In the words of James Baldwin, “You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.” This truth is embedded in my practice.

Ultimately, my work seeks to spark introspection, to cultivate connection, and to celebrate the power of creativity as a vehicle for personal and collective transformation.

Group Shows

Art on the Rise Group Exhibit / Curator: Far SE Collaborative / Signal House / Washington, DC / 2022

Reality / Foundry Gallery / Washington, DC / 2022

The INCLUDE Art Exhibition / Curator: Marlon Powell / The Yard DC / Washington, DC / 2021

Harmony / Curator: Josef Isaiah Keyes / The Village DC / Washington, DC / 2020

Subjective Nature / Curator: Kilolo Luckett / August Wilson African American Cultural Center / Pittsburgh, PA / 2019

Operation Consent / Curator: Elise Dorsey / The Stew / Washington, DC / 2018

If I Knew Then What I Know Now /Curator: Hadaiyah Bey / PGAAM and Cultural Center/ North Brentwood, MD /2018

Operation Consent / Curator: Elise Dorsey / Studio 301 / Brooklyn, NY/ 2017

Lusting Love / Curator: Amir Browder / Homme DC / Washington, DC / 2017

Solo Shows

Can They Hear Me Now… / Foundry Gallery / Washington, DC / 2023