Joshua Patterson: Art + Justus: Dreamin’ in Color

Joshua Patterson: Art + Justus: Dreamin’ in Color
On view: July 31–September 14, 2025

At the intersection of street art and fine art is the unique work of Chicano artist, Joshua Patterson. Working entirely in spray paint, hand-cut stencils and neon glass, Joshua has developed an immediately recognizable style characterized by his protagonists, Art and Justus. By giving these big concepts figurative forms, Patterson is able to play with the relationship between the two and explore complicated ideas with humor and pathos. He is a self taught artist.​​

This body of work is about specific autobiographical stories in the artist’s life that become reflections of our common humanity. Throughout the show, Art & Justus (“Justus” is a blended concept combining “Justice” + “Us”) serve as heroes in Patterson’s sprawling visual narratives. Dreamin’ in Color alludes to the audience’s collaborative contribution – where we live, grow up and dream become veils of personal experience we layer on to Patterson’s stories bringing them to life in full, living color. In each piece, Art + Justus act as stand-ins both for the artist and for us.

​”As a Chicano artist, born and raised in Albuquerque on the west side of the city, I believe art should be thought provoking and challenge the viewer to grasp the idea of what’s taking place whether that be something that invokes culture, community or the state of where I am as a man finding himself daily.”