{{Short description|Dominica-born British painter (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Tam Joseph <!-- include middle initial, if not specified in birth_name --> | honorific_suffix = | image = <!-- just the pagename, without the File:/Image: prefix or brackets --> | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Thomas Joseph | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947}} <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living artists, {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} for dead. For living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per WP:DOB. Treat such cases as if only the year is known, so use {{birth year and age|YYYY}} or a similar option. --> | birth_place = Charlotte Ville, Dominica | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | education = Central School of Art and Design; Slade School of Art, University of London | alma_mater = | known_for = | other_names = Tom Joseph | notable_works = ''Spirit of the Carnival'';<br />''UK School Report'' | style = | movement = | spouse = | awards = <!-- {{awd|award|year|title|role|name}} (optional) --> | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = {{URL|https://www.tamjosephartlive.com/}} | module = }}
'''Tam Joseph''' (born 1947) is a Dominica-born British painter, formerly known as '''Tom Joseph'''.<ref>Chambers, Eddie (2014), ''Black Artists in British Art: A History since the 1950s'', I.B. Tauris, pp. 255–56, note 20. {{ISBN|1780762720}}.</ref> Described as "a uniquely talented, multidimensional artist" by art historian Eddie Chambers, "Tam Joseph has contributed a number of memorable paintings that locate themselves at the centre of socio-political commentary, often making work that shocks as it amuses, amuses as it shocks. Typical in this regard are paintings for which Joseph is universally loved and respected, such as 'Spirit of the Carnival' and 'UK School Report'."<ref name=EChambers>Eddie Chambers, [http://www.eddiechambers.com/exhibitions/tam-joseph-history-1998/ "Tam Joseph - This is History"] (1998); text from accompanying catalogue.</ref>
[[File:Spirit of the Carnival, Life Between Islands, Tate, 2021.jpg|thumb|Installation view of Joseph's ''Spirit of the Carnival'', November 2021, Tate Britain]]
==Biography== Born in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Joseph came at the age of eight to London, where he still lives and works.<ref>[http://new.diaspora-artists.net/display_item.php?id=29&table=artists "Tam Joseph"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704100557/http://new.diaspora-artists.net/display_item.php?id=29&table=artists |date=4 July 2022 }} at Diaspora Artists.</ref> He has been quoted as saying: "I am Windrush.... I didn't experience growing up as a Black child in England."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/04/blk-art-group-angry-young-blacks-keith-piper-tam-joseph-claudette-johnson|title='We were the AYBs – the angry young Blacks': the art movement that rocked Thatcher's Britain|first=Alex|last=Mistlin|newspaper=The guardian|date=4 January 2022}}</ref>
In 1967, he studied at the Central School of Art and Design, following this with a BA course at the Slade School of Art, University of London. He worked on ''Yellow Submarine'', the 1968 animated film featuring the Beatles. He travelled in Europe and the Far East during the 1970s, and subsequently enrolled at the London College of Printing, graduating with a Dip AD in Typographic design.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.creativeafricanetwork.com/person/37253/en |title=Creative Africa Network. |access-date=4 July 2012 |archive-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113235931/http://www.creativeafricanetwork.com/person/37253/en |url-status=dead }}</ref> While working for the magazine ''Africa Journal'' in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he also travelled extensively in Africa.<ref>[http://www.biennaledakar.org/2014/spip.php?article141 "Tam Joseph"], Dak'Art 2014.</ref> In 1979, he illustrated Buchi Emecheta's children's book ''Titch the Cat'', published by Allison and Busby.<ref>[https://guardian.ng/life/culture-lifestyle/buchi-emechetas-life-in-novels/ "A Life Well Lived – Buchi Emecheta’s Life In Novels"], ''The Guardian'' (Nigeria), 26 January 2017.</ref>
According to InIVA (the Institute of International Visual Art), "Joseph's work is often figurative and centred on the themes of reality, or rather the surreality, of life in the city."<ref>[https://iniva.org/library/digital-archive/people/j/joseph-tam/ "Tam Joseph"], InIVA.</ref>
In the documentary film ''Tam Joseph; Work in Progress'', he talks about his start as a painter and how he enjoys using tools he himself has made. This film was made over a period spanning seven years (2011–2017) and includes his work in sculpture, painting and graphic design.<ref name=documentary>Moore, Erik, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esc9LkD3mOE "Tam Joseph; Work in Progress"], 5 December 2019 – via YouTube.</ref>
He recognises Pablo Picasso as one of his main references in sculpture and admires how he was capable of looking at things and offering a new interpretation of them.
One of Joseph's best known paintings is his 1983 work ''Spirit of the Carnival''<ref name=EChambers /> (a reference to the Notting Hill Carnival),<ref>[http://www.movinghere.org.uk/gallery/artwork/spirit.htm "The Gallery: Carnival"], The National Archives.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonist.com/london/museums-and-galleries/life-between-islands|title=Life Between Islands Is A Must-See Exhibition Of British Art|first=Tabish|last=Khan|website=Londonist|date=6 December 2021|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> described by ''Time Out'' as a "jaw-dropping image of a carnival masquerader being kettled by the police".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/art/life-between-islands-caribbean-british-art-1950s-now-review|title=Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s-Now review|magazine=Time Out|first=Eddy|last=Frankel|date=26 November 2021|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> Another notable work, dating from 1983, is ''UK School Report'', which depicts the passage of a Black youth through the British education system in three portraits that are captioned: "Good at sports", "Likes music" and "Needs surveillance".<ref>[http://www.calling.org.uk/pages/commentary/chambers/Chambers_2.php Tam Joseph commentary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406031659/http://www.calling.org.uk/pages/commentary/chambers/Chambers_2.php |date=6 April 2023 }}, p. 2, "Calling" project.</ref>
His exhibitions have included: ''Caribbean Art at the Crossroads'', El Museo del Barrio, Studio Museum in Harlem and Queens Museum, 2012; ''This is History'', Gallery II and touring, 1998; ''Learning to Walk'', Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling, and touring; ''Us and Dem'', Storey Institute, Lancaster, 1994; ''Back to School'', The Showroom, London, 1989; ''Black Art: Plotting the Course'', Oldham Art Gallery and touring, 1988; ''Big Yellow'', Bedford Hill Gallery, 1988; ''Observers are Worried'',<ref>[http://www.eddiechambers.com/archive/tamjoseph-observersareworried/ "Tam Joseph: Observers Are Worried"], Eddie Chambers.</ref> Painting and Sculpture, St Pancras Library and Shaw Theatre, London, 1986; ''Monkey Dey Chop, Baboon Dey Cry'', Barbican Arts Centre, London, 1984.<ref>[http://www.edinburghartfestival.com/commissions/projects/where_do_i_end_and_you_begin/tam_joseph "Tam Joseph"], Festival projects, Edinburgh Art Festival, 30 July – 30 August 2015.</ref> His work was included in the major group exhibition ''No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960–1990'' at London's Guildhall Art Gallery (10 July 2015 – 24 January 2016).<ref>{{cite web|first=Hamja|last=Ahsan|url=https://mediadiversified.org/2015/12/31/exhibition-of-the-year-no-colour-bar-black-art-in-action-1960-1990/ |title=Exhibition of the Year: No Colour Bar: Black Art in Action 1960–1990|website=Media Diversified|date=31 December 2015}}</ref>
Tate Britain's landmark exhibition ''Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s – Now'' (1 December 2021 – 3 April 2022), celebrating 70 years of Caribbean-British art, prominently featured Joseph's work ''Spirit of the Carnival''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/stories/life-between-islands-exploring-caribbean-british-art|title=Life Between Islands: exploring Caribbean-British art|date=23 December 2021|first=Siham |last=Ali|website=Art UK|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/c/windows-open-caribbean-british-soul|title=Windows open into the Caribbean-British soul|first=Jenny|last=Mitchell|newspaper=Morning Star|date=3 February 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/life-between-islands-caribbean-british-art-1950s-now-review-tate-britain|title=Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s – Now|website=Studio International|date=28 December 2021|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://socanews.com/news/life-between-islands-a-new-perspective|title=Life Between Islands – a new perspective|first=Stephen|last=Spark|website=Soca News|date=31 March 2022|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref>
The first major book providing an extensive survey of his work, ''Tam Joseph: I Know What I See'', was published in September 2023 by Four Corners Books, featuring an introduction by Eddie Chambers.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.fourcornersbooks.co.uk/books/tam-joseph/|title=Tam Joseph: I Know What I See|publisher=Four Corners Books|isbn=978-1-909829-23-7|date=September 2023}}</ref> A review of the monograph states: "As the collected works in the book demonstrate, Joseph finds inspiration in multiple sources — from reflections on his own history and the history of injustices that African Caribbean people in Britain face to cinema, sport, and music. Besides social and political issues, the natural world is also among his chosen subjects, together with the history of painting itself. Knowledgeable about art from the past, Joseph creates pieces that reference historical genres and forms, inviting viewers to consider them anew."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/tam-joseph-monograph|title=Tam Joseph's New Monograph Brings Together Paintings and Sculptures from Over 40 Years of Work|first=Eli|last=Anapur|website=Widewalls|date=7 November 2023|access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>
==Selected group exhibitions== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * 1984: ''Into the Open: New Paintings, Prints and Sculptures by Contemporary Black Artists'', Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield –– ''Creation For Liberation 2nd Open Exhibition By Black Artists'', Brixton Art Gallery, London<ref>[http://brixton50.co.uk/creation-for-liberation/ Brixton Art Gallery Archive 1983–1986], Brixton 50.</ref> * 1985: ''Blackskin/Bluecoat'', Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool (4 April – 4 May 1985) * 1986: ''From Two Worlds'', Whitechapel Art Gallery, London (30 July – 7 September 1986) * 1987: ''Double Vision'', Cartwright Hall, Bradford –– Prema Art Gallery, Gloucestershire, The Old Mill, Uley * 1988: ''Black Art: Plotting the Course'', Oldham Art Gallery –– ''The Artist Abroad'', Lincolnshire, Usher Gallery * 1990: ''Steel by Design'', Scunthorpe Museum * 1992: ''Blast from the Past'', Glasgow Art Museum ––The Minories, Colchester * 1993: Greenwich Citizens Art Gallery * 1994: ''Us n' Dem'', Lancaster City Art Galleries * 1995: ''ART'CRA'', Accra, Ghana –– Tricycle Theatre, London<br /> –– Gallerie de la Salamandre, Nîmes * 1997: Bradford, Museums and Art Galleries –– Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield * 1998: ''Le Corps Humain'', Gallerie des Arênes, Nîmes * 1999: Tullie House Art Gallery, Carlisle * 2000: Galerie HD Nick, Aubais * 2006: Gallerie de L'Ombres, Nîmes * 2007: ''Hawkins & Co'', Elspeth Kyle Gallery, London * 2008: ''Hawkins & Co'', Novas Contemporary Urban Centre, Liverpool –– ''Crossing the Waters'', Cartwright Hall, Bradford * 2009: The Tavern Gallery, Meldreth, Herts –– Pic n'Mix, Woolworth, Leytonstone High Road, London * 2010: Gallery 101, Mansion House, London * 2012: ''Material Matters EastwingX'', Courtauld Institute, London –– ''Caribbean: Crossroads of the World'', Queens Museum of Art New York; El Museo, New York; Studio Museum in Harlem * 2013: ''50 Years Post-Birmingham'', The Art Gallery: University of Maryland College Park –– ''Tehran Calling'', London Print Workshop * 2014: ''DAK'ART 2014'', Senegal –– Perez Museum of Art, Miami, ''Caribbean: Crossroads of the World''<br /> –– ''Tam Joseph: "Back in School"'', The Reading Room, London<br /> –– ''"Where Do I End and You Begin?"'' Edinburgh Art Festival * 2015: ''No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960–1990'', Guildhall Art Gallery, London * 2020: ''Evolution - Tam Joseph Paintings'', Felix & Spear Gallery, London<ref>[https://www.artrabbit.com/events/evolution-tam-joseph-paintings "Evolution: Tam Joseph Paintings | 3 Oct 2020 – 15 Nov 2020"], ''ArtRabbit''.</ref> * 2021–2022: ''Life Between Islands'', Tate Britain<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/29/life-between-islands-review-displaying-the-power-and-passion-of-caribbean-british-art|title=Life Between Islands review: displaying the power and passion of Caribbean-British art|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Adrian|last= Searle|date=29 November 2021}}</ref>
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== See also == * BLK Art Group
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.tamjosephartlive.com/ Tam Joseph official website] *[https://www.felixandspear.com/tam-joseph/ Felix & Spear Gallery] *[http://www.axisweb.org/p/tjoseph/ Tam Joseph]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at Axisweb *[http://www.calling.org.uk/pages/commentary/chambers/Chambers_1.php Tam Joseph commentary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406055500/http://www.calling.org.uk/pages/commentary/chambers/Chambers_1.php |date=6 April 2023 }}, Calling Project. * {{Art UK bio}} * Tam Joseph, [https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O136603/spirit-of-the-carnival-print-tam-joseph/ "Spirit of the Carnival"], V&A. * [http://futuristicallyancient.com/2013/06/13/art-of-this-world-tam-joseph/ "Art of This World: Tam Joseph"], Aker: Futuristically Ancient. * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MWGW7f6NLU "Tam Joseph - The Handmade Map of the World"], 12 August 2014, YouTube. * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6AGJcg5LbY "Tam Joseph, Art Discussion: In Conversation with Adelaide Damoah"], 31 March 2017. * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esc9LkD3mOE "Tam Joseph - Work In Progress"], 5 December 2019, YouTube.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Tam}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century English male artists Category:20th-century English painters Category:21st-century English male artists Category:21st-century English painters Category:Alumni of the Central School of Art and Design Category:Alumni of the London College of Printing Category:Alumni of the Slade School of Fine Art Category:Artists from London Category:Black British artists Category:Dominica artists Category:Dominica emigrants to England Category:English male painters Category:People from Saint George Parish, Dominica