Joseph Konert is an American artist who combines fragile and industrial materials, intertwining elements of street culture and religious symbolism. His work invites a deeper conversation about spirituality in today's world, where butterflies, stripes, symbols, and eclectic objects coalesce in a visually captivating manner.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Joseph spent his formative years in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he became inspired by the rich history of the knitting mill and textile industries. Interning in fashion honed his skills in color composition, teaching him the power of color to evoke emotion. His explorations of New York City and San Francisco, as well as his immersion into the world of graffiti in the early 2000s, shaped his bold, expansive vision.
Joseph's career-long interest in patterns and repetition has covered exteriors and interiors, ranging from retail concepts to offices and city commissions. In 2012, Joseph created a series of butterfly works painted with xylene gold and bronze leaf paint. Vividly colored butterflies are layered to create rich, jewel-toned patterns that are gracefully painted across the canvas, capturing the essence of the butterfly dance in nature.
In 2015, Joseph embarked on a site-specific 385-foot exterior stripe mural installation in New Orleans, Louisiana, conceived as a single monumental work that exhibits his intrinsic use of color and propensity for scale.
In 2017, Joseph began collaborating with interior designers and the renowned Farrow & Ball in Los Angeles, channeling over two decades of painting experience to transform living spaces. Today, Joseph thrives on partnerships across hospitality, fashion, and design, blending his artistic vision into various projects that create meaningful experiences in both commercial and public contexts.
Based in New York City, Joseph's series continues to build upon and challenge traditional art boundaries, merging the sacred with the contemporary and ultimately inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with art and spirituality.