STORIES WITHOUT WORDS

March 12 – May 22, 2021

Stories Without Words represents 15 years of art produced by Las Vegas painter and illustrator Joseph Watson. Influenced by his observations, Watson’s artwork contains underlying stories based on the celebrations and challenges of life. The artist’s signature “urban-style” paintings are equal parts grit and whimsy, usually offering hope and inspiration.

The artwork evolves stylistically with each different subject matter, and the color palette changes depending on mood, availability of materials, and concept. The black and white drawing to the right, titled Morning Rush, was created by Watson capturing the likeness of every customer he saw come into the coffee shop while he was sketching. The layering of the bustling customers, each with their own story, gives the viewer a sense of the atmosphere during a “morning rush.” A similar lively feel exists in the print Sunday at the Swapmeet, which represents Watson’s early career as a swap meet vendor. These two works stand in contrast to the quiet, singular focus of the five floral art pieces located to the left, which deal with life’s struggles.

Narratives inspire each piece Watson creates, but his objective is to encourage viewers to look deep into each piece and discover their own story: “I want to let each piece speak to you without the distraction of a written narrative. Your interpretation is just as essential as the image itself. Without the engagement from the viewer, the image isn’t complete. It is a collaborative effort.”

Joseph Watson, also known by his signature “JOEE,” grew up in Gardena, CA. After graduating from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA, he began applying his artistic hand to a variety of outlets including creating concepts for video-game companies, designing toys for Mattel, mentoring other artists, donating his time to philanthropic endeavors, producing public art, and developing children’s books (most notably as illustrator for the Go, Go, Greta series). In addition to his art making, Watson owned and operated one of Las Vegas’s most impactful Arts District galleries for over 12 years.