Art exclusive: mydeco chats to artist Joseph Warren

Image credit: Joseph Warren

London-based artist Joseph Warren has built quite a following with his nostalgic butterfly montages made from old maps and typographic documents. So charming are they, our discerning head of all things creative, Pia, couldn’t resist getting her paws on one.

We chatted with Joesph about his work, his inspiration and who he has his eye on in the art world.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I find it wherever I go – what I’m usually looking for are the little scraps of accidental beauty that occur in the most ordinary or unexpected places. There’s a magnetic wall in my studio which holds everything I’m finding visually stimulating at that time and keeps firing my inspiration.

How would you describe your style?

There are three distinct strands to my work: abstract imagery, digital photomontage, and 3D assemblage – as with the butterfly series. I like to make the most of digital technology, but I don’t let it dictate the content of my work.

Image credit: Joseph Warren

Have you always wanted to be an artist?

Yes.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to buy art – at any price / on any scale?

It’s a cliché, but… buy what you love. I can’t see the point in collecting something supposedly hot if you don’t actually want it in your home! Make the most of online artist portals such as society6 & the Saatchi sale room where you can discover up and coming talent and buy commission free.

Image credit: Joseph Warren

What British artist do you have your eye on right now?

Charming Baker – a self-described ‘urban artist’ who works in oils on canvas, linen, wood and paper. Brilliant use of texture and weird, unsettling visual motifs. The Americans are keen on him and he’s had several exhibitions stateside. See www.charmingbaker.com

What upcoming exhibition are you most excited about?

Not an exhibition so much as an exhibition space: the new firstsite contemporary art venue in my home town of Colchester in Essex. It’s a spectacular gold crescent-shaped building by South American starchitect Rafael Viñoly (the guy who designed the walkie-talkie skyscraper in the City) that’s been several years in the making and should open its doors next spring.

What advice would you give on getting the most out of an exhibition, as a visitor?

Keep your mind open and don’t be a sheep – just because everyone else is crowding around the same exhibit doesn’t mean it’s the most meaningful to you. Beat the camera ban by packing a sketch pad – it’s surprisingly easy to capture the essence of an artwork with simple notes and drawings. If you use the same book for all visits it will become a beautiful exhibition diary full of your favourite works of art.