Joshua Drayzen: Spirit Wave

Joshua Drayzen’s highly detailed works on paper explore the passage of time, ceremony, and transformation, all themes that stem from a compulsive impulse to draw. Drawing every day is a personal ritual for the artist, allowing him to conjure images that echo his internal world. Each day’s work builds upon the last, creating a process where the repetitive act of drawing morphs into a form of introspection, giving form to an ever-evolving self as motions transform into a space for personal discovery.

Recurring motifs such as a humanoid owl-avatar that serves as a guide through magical spaces and (dead) nails that emanate occult power act as ethereal guides into an inner world. These protective spirits are manifested through a rigorous, transformative drawing ritual that reflects Drayzen’s exploration of self and identity through the supernatural. This supernatural energy is infused into each of the artist’s drawings through a distinct combination of pen, pencil, Magic FX pencils, and multi-chromatic pearlescent watercolors. Many of Drayzen's drawings draw inspiration from the rich historical imagery found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's extensive online archive.

For the artist, drawing is a meditative process that creates a transformative space, where intricate details and symbolism invite viewers to explore his interest in the mystical. This daily custom blends his personal cosmology with the act of creation, becoming an ongoing engagement with both his art and spiritual exploration.  The drawings presented in Spirit Wave have been selected from a body of work produced during 1000 consecutive days of drawing. The 1001st day will coincide with the exhibition’s opening.

Joshua Drayzen graduated with a BFA in Fine Art from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and has recently completed a residency at the Vermont Studio Center. His work has been included in several two-person and group exhibitions, including recent exhibitions at The Middle Room Gallery in Los Angeles (2024), the NYC Crit Club in New York City (2024), Ortega y Gasset Projects in Brooklyn (2023), and My Pet Ram in New York City (2021). The artist was a member of Tim Rollins and K.O.S. (Kids of Survival), a collective that collaboratively created and exhibited work with several notable galleries, including Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Galerie Eva Presenhuber. Joshua Drayzen lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.