Joshua Horkey Art - Previous Work

My work explores the relationship between memory, media, and material. I create mixed media pieces using found objects and repurposed surfaces, often layering collage, vintage ephemera, and acrylic paint. I’m drawn to materials that already have a story—something aged, imperfect, or forgotten—and I use those as a starting point to build, break down, and rebuild each piece.

The process is hands-on and layered. I work in stages—adding, tearing back, and reworking—so that the final piece shows its history. What’s left is often a mix of transparency, texture, and fragmented images. I’m influenced by artists like Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein for their use of appropriated imagery, and by Richter and Twombly for their textures and mark-making. That mix of clean lines and expressive gesture is something I keep coming back to.

I often incorporate comic imagery—not to reference fame or nostalgia, but to represent something more universal. These characters become stand-ins for broader human experiences, reflecting themes like vulnerability, distraction, and emotional tension.

At the heart of my work is a kind of personal reflection—on what we see, what we remember, and how images shape our understanding of the world. I’m not aiming to give answers, but to create space for people to pause, look closer, and maybe see a bit of themselves in the layers.