Prof. Joshua Chambers

I create paintings that blend memory, metaphor, and the absurd to explore the narratives we carry and construct. Using acrylic, gouache, watercolor, and ink, I build symbolic landscapes inhabited by animals, masked figures, and theatrical props—each representing fragments of my personal mythology. Influenced by a background in theatrical set design and a fascination with absurdist literature, my compositions often take on a surreal, dreamlike quality, reflecting on how we perform identity, mask vulnerability, and search for connection in a fractured world. Recurring figures like chimpanzees and birds serve as emblematic guides through these open-ended scenes, which invite viewers into the ambiguity of meaning-making. Text appears subtly, drawn from fragmented conversations or literary echoes, not as directives but as interpretive cues—lines from a half-remembered play. Through this visual storytelling, I aim to create work that is both playful and poignant, inhabiting the space where logic breaks down and imagination takes hold.