Born in Banjul and raised in EboTown, art has been a significant part of Josephs life , commonly called JJ, from childhood through to his current occupation. After qualifying as an art teacher from the Gambia College, he went on to teach art at the secondary school level for several years. His experience with students inspired him to establish an art association called “Sprout Art,” which aims to provide apprenticeship, and mentorship for both school-going art students and other art lovers in the community.
Many of his works are inspired by themes and concepts derived from his childhood experiences and some perspectives of Gambian culture like fireside stories, proverbs, and daily life activities that convey strong cultural values. His poetry has also influenced his paintings. Joseph’s journey in the art industry has been intriguing, as he has navigated the challenges in The Gambia while being motivated by his passion for art.
His first participation in an art exhibition was in 2002, “Lemon Fish,” which took place in Kartong. The following year, in 2003, he received a runner-up award in a poster contest by UNFPA. Additionally, he took part in art workshops organized by the Pan African Circles of Artists (PACA). These experiences served as a good build-up to his first solo exhibition in 2012 at the Alliance Franco-Gambian Centre, where he successfully sold many of his paintings.
He currently lives in UK, Edinburgh, pursuing a master’s degree in theology as he is an ordained pastor. “There is a bit of art in all I do” is his conviction.
