Meet Josh Burrell | Multimedia Artist and Journalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Burrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I live my life by two quotes actually. Both affirm me as a storyteller. The one, “Until history is told from the perspective of the lion, then the hunter will always be glorified.” I don’t know who wrote the quote, but it reminds me to take agency in my storyteller and to be an advocate for other Black and queer folk to share their stories as well. The other is by Lorrain Hansberry, “The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.” This quote grounds me and makes me feel seen because I’ve always felt like an outsider. My whole life, I’ve been an artist and creative, and that’s attracted people to what I make, although I’ve only rarely felt people attracted to me. I feel like being an artist as a lifestyle — from my daily approaches, iconoclasm, and language around creating — keeps me lonely. Hansberry was one of the first people to share that loneliness comes with the territory. Her quote helped me accept myself despite how others interact with me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Every medium I work through expresses a different part of myself. Everything I create works with memories as strong inspiration.

My graphic art straddles freedom and isolation. I do that by manipulating form and using vivid color to translate the moods of my memories. I can’t talk about what sets me apart from others because I don’t mind others when I create. I’m excited to create more and envision freedom in new ways. I have so many more memories I’d like to share with people. I’ve only worked with paint like two-or-three times, so I’d like to flesh out more physical paintings also.

I got where I am professionally, as a journalist, by being astute and asking good questions. My professional career is hard to explain because I didn’t plan for it. Journalism kinda happened for me. I got into journalism as a way to get closer to my father, and while that didn’t happen, I fell in love with the freedom I was granted to ask questions then share the story of my answers. The greatest challenge I face is imposter syndrome. The syndrome meanders through my different modes of expression. In that way, I’m always questioning something in myself, but through expressing myself, I always find an answer. The work that goes into accepting yourself isn’t easy but it’s worth it and you’re worth it.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to be prepared by knowing myself, communicating my needs, and honoring the present by being grateful for my life experiences.

I want the world to know that I’ve spent a lot of time watching it. I’ve been in spaces where I’m considered and others where I’m not. I’ve made and fumbled beautiful relationships and I want to share the feelings I’ve felt because I know others have too. My art comes from love and I want people to feel it when they interact with what I make. Through multimedia storytelling, I share what it means to be a part of my world. But most importantly, the world must know that your idea of me is not my responsibility to live up to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For a week-long trip to Atlanta, I’d definitely have to show off “For Keeps Books”. It’s a Black-owned bookstore on Auburn Ave. I’m a storyteller and the books in that place have so much soul, they’re well organized, and right across the street is a Caribbean restaurant. It’s a full date. Another full date is the “Cat Cafe” across the street from Oakland Cemetery, both in the Grant Park area. I grew up in cemeteries, so I’m forever attracted to the peaceful energy they exude. I’d take friends to the Value Village on Metropolitan too. I’d like to take someone on their 50% off day, but they have good deals regardless. After thrifting, we could go to the JJ’s Fish and Chicken that’s within walking distance. Of course, I’d have to jump to Tasili’s Raw Reality Cafe in the late afternoon for a plant-based wrap next to a sunset. For any visitors, the West End in Atlanta homes the best sunsets in Atlanta. We’d have to pop out to Cascade for the one time. Cascade is mandatory for any Atlanta trip. I’d also want to take a trip to Trader Joe’s in midtown for a cheap bottle of wine and do one of two things: see a film at the Midtown Art Cinema or sip wine on a jaunt around Piedmont Park. I’d hope for the time that my guest is around, there’s an open exhibition at either the Zucot gallery, the largest Black-owned art gallery in the South East region, or one of the gallery spaces in the MINT. (both in the West End)

I’d finish the trip with a walk through the Atlanta University Center (Morris Brown included). Again, a great place to see watch the sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I grew up in a household of mostly men, but I was definitely raised by women. My mother’s love, the acceptance I felt around her siblings, and the freedom I felt around my father’s siblings shape everything I create. Specifically, I’d like to thank my aunt Angela, my aunt Sharon, my mother. Aunt Angela was the first person to accept me for however I expressed myself. Now an angel, always watching over me, she helps me feel loved when the world is daunting. Many of my paintings and stories grow from the roots of her love. Aunt Sharon gave me my goals. I saw her freedom in life and wanted to replicate that in my own. She’s probably the smartest person I know and she gave me the pride to be young, Black, and intelligent. My mother dedicated her life to my safety and protection with love. I wouldn’t have character without her.

These people, and countless more, shaped me to be who I am. They deserve every flower, fruit, and freedom that my future sees.

Website: https://drum.io/jburrell_jbbf94e4

Instagram: @jbbf94e4

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joburr

Twitter: @jbbf94e4

Image Credits
B. Media @_b.media (IG)