Joshua Bonson’s works are as much about the act of painting as they are the subject. Bonson’s palette knife, hands and brushes become an extension of his body, mind and spirit. A way of processing emotions and telling a story. A contemporary artist who shares stories of his Indigenous heritage passed onto him by his father and grandfather through his work.
‘In our culture, there is a connection between people and families; kinship that can’t be described or translated in English. I capture those ties in my works, with my markings and the strokes of the brush. My heritage guides the stories captured. Textured streaks of acrylic create an element of flow, scaled perfection, they tell a personal story, a portrayal of uniqueness, solidarity, and an acknowledgement of bloodlines.’
Creating art for Bonson is a discipline where he has no boundaries and is free to experiment and explore the levels of creativity and master techniques. A space where he thrives and the canvas becomes the medium for which he portrays his inner thoughts and emotions; while inviting viewers to interpret and connect with the artwork on a personal level.

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‘I create works to connect, to open windows into other people’s thoughts and to have them tell me what they see and feel. An opportunity for the audience to use their imagination to find something in my work that makes them think, feel, experience, and maybe share that with someone else. I want my works to generate stories that people connect over or around; I love hearing what people see in my paintings. Each work is a unique, with its own personality. They are all a part of me, enabling me to express myself, tell a story, start a conversation.’

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