Joshua Mays facts for kids

Joshua Mays (born around 1976) is an American artist. He is known for his paintings, illustrations, and especially his large murals. His art often shows Black people in amazing, imaginary worlds. Many people see his work as part of a style called Afrofuturism, which mixes African culture with science fiction and fantasy. Joshua Mays was born in Denver, Colorado, and now lives and works in Oakland.

Discovering Joshua Mays' Art

How Joshua Mays Started as an Artist

Joshua Mays taught himself how to create art. He was very talented from a young age. He sold his very first artwork that someone asked him to make when he was still in high school. This shows how dedicated he was to art early on.

Influences and Music Art

Mays looks up to other artists for inspiration. One artist he admires is Mati Klarwein, who was famous for designing album covers. Joshua Mays has also created album art for musicians himself. He has designed covers for artists like Jneiro Jarel and the singer Jill Scott.

Exploring Joshua Mays' Murals

The "BEACON" Mural Series

Joshua Mays is well-known for his large murals, especially a series called "BEACON." This series was inspired by a quote from the famous writer Maya Angelou. She said, "If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities." This idea means that one big dream can change many things in the real world.

Locations of the "BEACON" Murals

You can find murals from the "BEACON" series in different parts of Oakland. Some of these are located at 23rd Avenue and 24th Street, 829 Vermont Street in West Oakland, and 1700 Broadway.

Beacon Frequency Reader Mural

The mural at 1700 Broadway is called Beacon Frequency Reader. It is one of the biggest murals in Oakland. This artwork shows a girl holding a staff, surrounded by birds. Joshua Mays has said that this girl is like a "gatekeeper" to a magical place. A curator named Sorell Raino-Tsui helped arrange for this large mural to be painted. She also helped bring other big murals to Oakland's Uptown area.

Augmented Reality Mural in Philadelphia

In 2018, Joshua Mays worked with King Britt and the Mural Arts Philadelphia to create a special "augmented reality mural." This means the mural came to life when viewed through a phone app. The artwork, called Dreams, Diaspora and Destiny, was painted at 5300 Lansdowne Avenue in Philadelphia. It included Mays's mural, music by Britt, and a special mobile app for people to use.

International Murals

Joshua Mays's art can be seen in many places around the world. Besides the United States, he has painted murals in cities like Johannesburg, South Africa, Mexico City, Mexico, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Recognition and Community Work

Featured in San Francisco Magazine

In 2018, San Francisco Magazine recognized Joshua Mays's talent. They named him as one of "100 artists putting the East Bay on the map." This shows how important his art is to the local art scene.

Working with the Obama Foundation

In February 2019, the Obama Foundation held an event in Oakland for its My Brother's Keeper program. Former President Barack Obama attended this event. The Obama Foundation asked Joshua Mays to create art for the venue. He painted murals of smiling Black boys for the event. He also spoke to young people there, sharing his experiences about being an artist.

Social Justice Mural for Liberation Park

In November 2020, it was announced that Kaiser Permanente and ABG Art Group were working together. They asked Joshua Mays and artist Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith to create a mural about social justice. This important artwork was planned for Liberation Park in Oakland.