Born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula, Joshua Searle’s work involves an examination into socio-cultural issues, diasporic identity and existence. Primarily a painter, Searle uses a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil stick, oil pastel, enamel and spray paint on canvas.
Searle explores the diasporic position in contemporary societies founded upon migration and displacement in America and Australia. He simultaneously questions confronting issues whilst celebrating Black excellence and the triumphs as well as the struggles found within being a man of colour.
Art has enabled him to explore his Colombian heritage and identity which has brought him to an understanding of the strength that his culture can provide.
Searle’s work uses figurative repetitive figures to explore meaning, which shift with the context of each work.
Searle has undertaken several commission with the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery 2022-23, including for the Archibald Prize Exhibition 2023. In 2023 he was a finalist in the Sir John Sulman Prize, AGNSW. He has held a number of large-scale solo exhibitions in Melbourne, the most recent being ‘I’m Sick of Being Polite’, 2023, held in conjunction with Melbourne fashion house Monphell.
Joshua currently has a major solo exhibition ‘Stolen Gold’ on at the Flinders Hotel as part of the Flinders Fringe Festival, 8-25 February.
