BIO

Joshua Cook is a Chicago-born painter and multidisciplinary artist whose work centers Black life, memory, and emotional truth. Working primarily in oil, acrylic, and digital media, he creates portraits and figurative scenes known for expressive color, atmosphere, and a strong sense of presence. His work often reflects quiet moments of interiority and nostalgia rooted in lived experience.

Cook has exhibited at the Museum of Science and Industry, the Zhou B Art Center, Studio 15 Chicago, Fortunehouse Art Center, Dragonfly Gallery, and Haz Room Studios. He completed a residency at the Kimball Arts Center with ILA in 2025 and continues to expand a rapidly growing body of work. He has also created design work for the Chicago Park District in partnership with Nike, featured in the Chicago Sun-Times.

He is currently based in Chicago, developing new projects that explore cultural storytelling, personal memory, and the emotional landscape of everyday Black life.