Work:
The work is a result of my formal training as a Industrial Designer at Pratt Institute, an obsession with monsters and comic book heroes, and my fascination with riding the line between comfort and discomfort. I give life to inanimate objects. I strive to get strong reactions through gesture and character. It is a process of two and three dimensionally sketching and a slow and intuitive exploration of material and form. More recently I have been exploring abstract narratives, rituals and their social context, and my early childhood perception of superheroes.
Brief History:
Joshua Ben Longo graduated from Pratt Institute in 2003 with bachelors degree in Industrial Design. In reaction to the restrictive world of commercial design he began to pursue showing his own work which includes sculpture, furniture, elaborate exhibits, and illustration. Joshua has shown his work throughout the world including the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, the Society of Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA and most recently in Creteil, France for Nouveax Monstres (Exit Festival). He has been featured in a such publications as Surface, Hi-Fructose, and Flaunt and has received tv news coverage for his work in the states. He currently works at Pratt Institute teaching three-dimensional design and as a product/graphic design consultant. Along with the art, Joshua writes music and looks forward to a long career in motivational speaking.
Contact: email me at longoland@gmail.com
Exhibitions:
Solo:
"Longoland: It May Be Contagious" Shelburne Museum May 2008
Burlington, VT
Group:
Deans Gallery Show (Pratt Institute) w/Natalie Lanese Nov-Dec 2009 Brooklyn,NY
"Nouveaux Monstres" (Exit Festival) March-April 2009 Creteil, France
"Nouveaux Monstres" (Via Festival) March-April 2009 Maubeuge, France
Society for Contemporary Craft w/Eva Funderburgh July 2008 Pittsburgh, PA
"Brooklyn Designs" May 2007 NYC
Subtext March 2007 San Diego
"Plush Week" (Gallery 1988) January 2007 LA
"Pimp My Doll" October 2006 Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam
Plush You October 2006 Seattle
Altoids "Living Spaces" May 2006 Brooklyn, NY
"Haute Green" May 2006 NYC
"Core 77 11th Year Anniversary Party" May 2006 NYC
"Block Party" May 2006 NYC
"Plush Week" (Gallery 1988) February 2006 LA
"In PLush We Trust" (ROTOFUGI) November 2005 Chicago
Altoids "Living Spaces" May 2005 Brooklyn, NY
Lectures:
"Breaking In" Brooklyn Designs 2008 Brooklyn, NY
A discussion with successful Pratt Alumni including Sam Cabot Cochran, Erika
Doering, Liz Kinnmark, Joshua Longo, and Sergio Silva
