Joshua Woolford is a transdisciplinary artist working across performance, sound, video, and installation. Joshua’s work is grounded in cultural research and their personal experiences of being a member of the queer Black Afro-Caribbean diaspora living in England.
Through their practice, Joshua acknowledges and confronts experiences of violence, aggression, and misalignment through installation, sound, language and their body. They embrace reflection, transition and movement as powerful and disruptive states which provoke critical dialogues.
Within their work they actively challenge prevailing narratives and question our position within the wider socio political landscape by centering embodied knowledge and intuition above systematic reasoning.
Often I’m coming back to the question ‘how does it feel?’. Through my practice I am ultimately forging a deeper understanding of my own identity and my hopes for the future.
Woolford graduated with an MA from the Royal College of Art (Contemporary Art Practice) and Cum Laude from the Design Academy Eindhoven (Media and Culture). They were the 2023-24 Interpretation Artist in Residence at Tate and a New Contemporaries 2023 Artist. In 2024 Joshua was the recipient of an Arts Council DYCP grant, and the a-n Artists Bursary.
Notable exhibitions include live performances at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, as and exhibitions and performances at various institutions across London, such as HOME by Ronan Mckenzie, Somerset House, Black Cultural Archives, the V&A, Gucci flagship store, Camden Art Centre and Tate Britain.
In addition to their artistic practice, Joshua lectures at both UAL (London College of Communication) and the Royal College of Art (School of Architecture) and takes on design commissions.
contact@joshwoolford.co.uk
Residencies and Awards
2025 -
LCC Design School Deans Award, 2025
Alice Yard Artist Residency, Trinidad. April 2025
2024 -
a-n 2025 Artist Bursary
Arts Council England DYCP grant
2023/24 Research & Interpretation Artist in Residence at Tate Britain
2019 - 2023
New Contemporaries Artist, 2023
RCA Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship, 2022
Burberry Design Scholarship, Royal College of Art, 2019 - 2022
Interviews / Features
AnOther Magazine AnOther Thing I Wanted to Tell You
a-n A Q&A with Joshua Woolford: “All of my projects are informed by my experiences”
The Standard
London’s new art power list
Nataal
‘CHILDREN OF THE DIASPORA: Where are we now?’
Exhibitions / Performances / Comissions
2025 -
Speaking Futures, ICA, London / Live performance and wip presentation, curated by Diasporas Now
wip Exhibition, Alice Yard, Trinidad / Installation. photography, painting, video and sound
2024 -
Rukus Live! Somerset House / Live Performance collaboration with Sippin’ T
THE ELEVEN by FKA Twigs. Sothebys / Live durational performance
Always Coming Home curated by A---Z (Anne Duffau). Matt’s Gallery / Live Performance collaboration with Vivienne Griffin
zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder (Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire). De Uitkijk, Amsterdam / A collaborative video project of Tia Campbell, Joshua Fay, Sin Wai Kin, Shuang Li, Sophia Al-Maria, Ruoru Mou, Lydia Ourahmane, Martine Syms, Ryan Trecartin and Joshua Woolford, created during Sophia Al-Maria’s residency for the Mondriaan Prize 2023
peacefully if we can, forcibly if we must. Enigma of Arrival curated by Royal College of Art CCA / Video Piece
New Dialogues with Sound. Tate Britain / Presentation, Live Performance, Curation
Assembly. Somerset House / Live performance collaboration with Nkisi
New Contemporaries 2023. Camden Art Centre, London / Video Piece and Live Performance
What No Fear Looks Like curated by Wa-Ju. Shoreditch Arts Club, London / Video Piece and Live Performance
2023 -
Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent / Live Durational Performance
Jewellers, Morecambe / Live Performance
New Contemporaries 2023. The Grundy, Blackpool / Video Piece
Drifts Festival 2023, Helsinki / Live Performance
Gucci, New Bond Street, London / Video Piece
Censored Pleasures & Closeted Desires. Fringe! x The Place, London / Live Performance Collaboration with Chadd Curry / Dahc Dermur
Always Coming Home curated by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at Iklectik, London / Live Performance
Tate Late: Desire, Culture and History. Tate Britain, London / Live Performance
Disagreements as Domains of Nausea and Elation. Austrian Cultural Forum, London / Live Performance
Queer & Now at Tate Britain, London / Live Performance & Soundscape
Peckham24 by Tom Lovelace at Copeland Park, London / Live Performance Collaboration with Anna-Lena Krause
You Make Me Feel by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at Somerset House, London / Live Performance
HOME x V&A Late, London / Live Durational Performance
The Takeover by Anticlone Gallery at Newington Green Meeting House, London / Sculptures and Live Performance
2022 -
Of Mythic Worlds by Harold Offeh at the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich / Video and Sound piece
Transforming Legacies by Pacheanne Anderson at Black Cultural Archives, London / Painting and Live Performance
Alter/self by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at PAF, Olomouc / Video piece in collaboration with Ijeoma Uzoukwu
PRIM x NOW Later: It Started With We at NOW Gallery, London / Production, Lighting and Sound
Children of the Diasporas by Pacheanne Anderson - part of 1-54 Art Fair's 10th anniversary London Edition at Somerset House, London / Painting
The Diaspora by Anticlone Gallery at FARMTV/William Blake house, London / Painting
144 by Ijeoma Uzoukwu at Reference Point, London / Live performance
Art In* by Pacheanne Anderson, Produced by Brian Maina at Soho House White City, London / Installation and Live performance
Diasporas Now invited by Decolonise Art History at Gallerie V, Cambridge / Live performance
HOME by Ronan Mckenzie, London / Installation, video and live performance
2021 -
Play and the Post Peak by Jerome Ince-Mitchell at The Factory Project, London / Installation, video and live performance
Mōōvement by Ijeoma Uzoukwu at Harlesdon High School, London / Live performance
Diasporas Now, Online / Performance video with Ijeoma Uzoukwu
2017 - 2020 -
Pending at san mei gallery, London / Sculpture
5hrs by Emily Moore at Sook Spaces, London / Performance video
Black History Online at Royal College of Art, London / Performance video
Name Drop by Jason Danino-Holt at Habait Theatre, Tel Aviv / Live Performance
Queering Session #5 by Olle Lundin at the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven / Live Performance
2025 -
Speaking Futures, ICA, London / Live performance and wip presentation, curated by Diasporas Now
wip Exhibition, Alice Yard, Trinidad / Installation. photography, painting, video and sound
2024 -
Rukus Live! Somerset House / Live Performance collaboration with Sippin’ T
THE ELEVEN by FKA Twigs. Sothebys / Live durational performance
Always Coming Home curated by A---Z (Anne Duffau). Matt’s Gallery / Live Performance collaboration with Vivienne Griffin
zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder (Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire). De Uitkijk, Amsterdam / A collaborative video project of Tia Campbell, Joshua Fay, Sin Wai Kin, Shuang Li, Sophia Al-Maria, Ruoru Mou, Lydia Ourahmane, Martine Syms, Ryan Trecartin and Joshua Woolford, created during Sophia Al-Maria’s residency for the Mondriaan Prize 2023
peacefully if we can, forcibly if we must. Enigma of Arrival curated by Royal College of Art CCA / Video Piece
New Dialogues with Sound. Tate Britain / Presentation, Live Performance, Curation
Assembly. Somerset House / Live performance collaboration with Nkisi
New Contemporaries 2023. Camden Art Centre, London / Video Piece and Live Performance
What No Fear Looks Like curated by Wa-Ju. Shoreditch Arts Club, London / Video Piece and Live Performance
2023 -
Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent / Live Durational Performance
Jewellers, Morecambe / Live Performance
New Contemporaries 2023. The Grundy, Blackpool / Video Piece
Drifts Festival 2023, Helsinki / Live Performance
Gucci, New Bond Street, London / Video Piece
Censored Pleasures & Closeted Desires. Fringe! x The Place, London / Live Performance Collaboration with Chadd Curry / Dahc Dermur
Always Coming Home curated by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at Iklectik, London / Live Performance
Tate Late: Desire, Culture and History. Tate Britain, London / Live Performance
Disagreements as Domains of Nausea and Elation. Austrian Cultural Forum, London / Live Performance
Queer & Now at Tate Britain, London / Live Performance & Soundscape
Peckham24 by Tom Lovelace at Copeland Park, London / Live Performance Collaboration with Anna-Lena Krause
You Make Me Feel by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at Somerset House, London / Live Performance
HOME x V&A Late, London / Live Durational Performance
The Takeover by Anticlone Gallery at Newington Green Meeting House, London / Sculptures and Live Performance
2022 -
Of Mythic Worlds by Harold Offeh at the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich / Video and Sound piece
Transforming Legacies by Pacheanne Anderson at Black Cultural Archives, London / Painting and Live Performance
Alter/self by Anne Duffau (A---Z) at PAF, Olomouc / Video piece in collaboration with Ijeoma Uzoukwu
PRIM x NOW Later: It Started With We at NOW Gallery, London / Production, Lighting and Sound
Children of the Diasporas by Pacheanne Anderson - part of 1-54 Art Fair's 10th anniversary London Edition at Somerset House, London / Painting
The Diaspora by Anticlone Gallery at FARMTV/William Blake house, London / Painting
144 by Ijeoma Uzoukwu at Reference Point, London / Live performance
Art In* by Pacheanne Anderson, Produced by Brian Maina at Soho House White City, London / Installation and Live performance
Diasporas Now invited by Decolonise Art History at Gallerie V, Cambridge / Live performance
HOME by Ronan Mckenzie, London / Installation, video and live performance
2021 -
Play and the Post Peak by Jerome Ince-Mitchell at The Factory Project, London / Installation, video and live performance
Mōōvement by Ijeoma Uzoukwu at Harlesdon High School, London / Live performance
Diasporas Now, Online / Performance video with Ijeoma Uzoukwu
2017 - 2020 -
Pending at san mei gallery, London / Sculpture
5hrs by Emily Moore at Sook Spaces, London / Performance video
Black History Online at Royal College of Art, London / Performance video
Name Drop by Jason Danino-Holt at Habait Theatre, Tel Aviv / Live Performance
Queering Session #5 by Olle Lundin at the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven / Live Performance
Workshops / Talks / Writing
2024 -
Central Media Studies at Royal College of Art, School of Architecture / Associate Lecturer
Design for Art Direction and Diploma for Professional Studies at UAL London College of Communication / Associate Lecturer
Fashion Communication Summer School at UAL Central Saint Martins / Visiting Lecturer
Creative Storytellers Club, PRIM x Tate Britain workshop series / Producer & Facilitator
Conch, South London Gallery curated by Hannah Geddes / Artist presentation
Contemporary Art Practice, Royal College of Art / Artist presentation
2023 -
Design for Art Direction and Diploma for Professional Studies at UAL London College of Communication / Associate Lecturer, ongoing
2021 -
Letter to my Little Queer Self / Writing comission
2020 -
Phantasy Saturday School by EAST x 198 Contemporary / Lecturer
Apple Store, Covent Garden, London / Workshop leader
Radio
‘specialists + drybabe w/ josh woolford - 18.01.2023 - foundation fm’ / foundation fm music mix
2024 -
Central Media Studies at Royal College of Art, School of Architecture / Associate Lecturer
Design for Art Direction and Diploma for Professional Studies at UAL London College of Communication / Associate Lecturer
Fashion Communication Summer School at UAL Central Saint Martins / Visiting Lecturer
Creative Storytellers Club, PRIM x Tate Britain workshop series / Producer & Facilitator
Conch, South London Gallery curated by Hannah Geddes / Artist presentation
Contemporary Art Practice, Royal College of Art / Artist presentation
2023 -
Design for Art Direction and Diploma for Professional Studies at UAL London College of Communication / Associate Lecturer, ongoing
2021 -
Letter to my Little Queer Self / Writing comission
2020 -
Phantasy Saturday School by EAST x 198 Contemporary / Lecturer
Apple Store, Covent Garden, London / Workshop leader
Radio
‘specialists + drybabe w/ josh woolford - 18.01.2023 - foundation fm’ / foundation fm music mix