A look into the eyes of wildlife

His art is a celebration of animals
His sculptures are almost exclusively made of cardboard
Josh's background is in fine art and portraiture

The fine arts are Josh's background, with a degree from Brighton University in Fine Art Painting. As an animal enthusiast, his bachelor's final piece featured a life-sized camel made from found and recycled materials. Josh's fascination with wildlife and love of traveling have led him to visit far flung locations around the world to see animals in the wild. His passion for scuba diving and the underwater world began in this way. The principles of zero waste and wildlife conservation are central to his work. Upon his return from South America and East Africa just before the first lockdown, he stumbled upon an unexpected artistic medium: cardboard. As cardboard became ubiquitous, friends and family enjoyed having somebody to give it to. Josh's expressive animal portraits evoke instant compassion and connection in viewers. Collaborating with multiple animal welfare charities, he allocates a portion of his sales to support their causes, amplifying the impact of his work beyond art.

Interview

What is so exciting about cardboard as a material?: Cardboard is a wonderful material. It provides a palette of earthy hues and varied textures, enabling me to bring a new expression to my work. Taking a discarded item and moulding it into new shapes, giving it life, and creating something beautiful, brings an extra layer of satisfaction to my craft.
What has been a particularly joyful experience in your career to date?: It is so special to be exhibiting at Homo Faber 2024, in one of the most iconic cities for art in the world! The greatest joy is watching the audience interact with my animal sculptures – I love that they bring smiles to people’s faces.
Is there a secret to creating this interaction?: I would say that I usually build a connection through the eyes and the facial expression of a piece. That is where we see the animals’ personalities. It is fun to work with colour and texture, and I love how each piece shows a unique emotion which makes them seem life-like.
What will you show at Homo Faber 2024?: I am so excited to share my largest and most ambitious piece to date – a 2.5 m coral reef sculpture. It will include over 50 different marine species, including tropical fish, turtles, rays, octopi and vibrant coral. Making this piece has brought together all my skills learned so far: painting, sculpture, portraiture, and cardboard artistry, as well as my underwater experience. It is a new evolution of my art practice.

Josh Gluckstein is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2013