Joshua Obichere (JILO) London, United Kingdom

• 
• 

  Back to profiles Invite to apply

Joshua Obichere is a London-based artist whose practice explores colonial legacies, freedom, and self-ownership through sculpture, painting, installation, and performance. His work examines the Black male body and its histories, addressing objectification within queer spaces, and he is also one half of the artist duo JILO.

Joshua Obichere’s practice examines the legacies of colonialism, its lingering effects, and the symbolism of African wax prints as reflections on freedom, self-ownership, and reconciliation. Working across sculpture, painting, installation, and performance, he explores the history and significance of the Black male body while confronting its objectification and fetishization—particularly within queer spaces. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Nona Faustine and Carlos Martiel, Joshua uses materiality as a site of inquiry and resistance to reclaim narrative agency. In addition to his solo practice, Joshua is one half of the artist duo JILO, alongside Lilo Amaral. Based in London, both are MA Fine Art graduates from Central Saint Martins (UAL) and experienced art educators. JILO’s community-driven practice is rooted in cultural intersections spanning Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UK, and reflects a shared commitment to cultural storytelling, creative wellbeing, and social justice.