Josh Mitchel is a Pittsburgh-based artist and educator. Through his work he explores various intrinsic psychological conflicts, stemming from interest in Freud’s theoretical construct of Ego and Id. Specifically, Josh is interested in the contrast between rational thoughts and irrational, impulse-driven behavior. Unique to each individual and in varying degrees, he believes this vacillating struggle to be part of the human experience. His paintings are in part autobiographical, but the use of the figure is intended to be universal as he addresses a tension that is ubiquitous.

The way cinematography can define the tone of a film, Josh's formal decisions work in service to conceptual underpinnings. He places heavy emphasis on form and space, and use the figure to create an enigmatic narrative. Anatomy is paramount in Josh's compositions – while often fractured, repeated, or disjunctive, his figures maintain a certain truth and plausibility. The models are often right up against the picture plane, forcefully occupying the space between the subject and the audience. Aggressive mark making, sweeping diagonals, and areas of high contrast set the stage for a theatrical opus.

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