Jwan Yosef, a Syrian-born Swedish artist and painter, is making waves in the art world with his unique and original approach to plastic art. With a childhood filled with artistic inclinations, Yosef pursued his passion by earning a degree in fine arts from Stockholm’s ‘Konstfack University’ and a Master’s in Fine Arts from London’s ‘Central Saint Martins.’ His talent has been showcased in group exhibitions across the globe, and he has held three solo exhibitions, including ‘Painting about Sex, Flesh, and Violence’ and ‘High Notes.’ Yosef’s art blurs the lines between paintings and sculptural objects, creating a captivating twilight zone. Not only is he a talented artist, but Yosef is also openly gay and married to Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin.
Quick Facts
- Age: 39 Years, 39 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Ricky Martin (m. 2017), father: Ahmad Yosef
- Born Country: Syrian Arab Republic
- Artists
- British Men
- Ancestry: Syrian Swedish
- Notable Alumni: Konstfack, Central Saint Martins
- Grouping of People: Gay
- Education: Central Saint Martins, Konstfack
Childhood & Early Life
Yosef was born on September 6, 1984, in Ras al-Ayn, in northeastern Syria. He is of Kurdish-Armenian descent, with his father being Syrian Kurd and his mother being an Armenian Christian. When Yosef was 2 years old, his family relocated from Syria to Sweden. In Syrian language, ‘Jwan’ means beautiful, young.
Education
Yosef has been interested in painting since he was a child. From 2004 to 2006, he studied painting at the Pernby School of Painting in Stockholm. In 2009, he graduated from the Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts, and Design in Stockholm. He then went on to receive his MA in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins in London in 2011.
Career
After completing his education, Yosef started looking for a studio and began working on his art. His work gained attention, and he participated in numerous international shows, which helped him secure more projects. He took part in several group exhibitions, including ones in Konstfack, Stockholm, and other cities such as London, Madrid, Brussels, Dallas, Karlstad, and Los Angeles.
Yosef draws inspiration from artists like Neo Rauch, Gerhard Richter, and Jaan Toomik, but he also finds inspiration in everyday things, experiences, and relationships. He primarily works with oil on Perspex and canvas.
In 2013, Yosef held his first solo exhibition, titled “Painting about Sex, Flesh, and Violence, lol,” at the Divus Gallery in London. He has since had two more solo exhibitions, “High Notes” at Galleri Anna Thulin in Stockholm and “Masked” at Stene Projects in Stockholm.
Yosef is a founding member and studio holder at The Bomb Factory Art Foundation, a contemporary artist studio in Archway, North London.
Awards & Achievements
In 2013, Yosef received two awards for his art: the Columbia Threadneedle Prize and the BEERS Contemporary Award for Emerging Art.
Personal Life
Yosef has a large following on Instagram and enjoys food and reading books. He is openly gay and has been in a relationship with Puerto Rican singer, actor, and author Ricky Martin since 2016. They confirmed their relationship with a red carpet appearance and attended the amFAR Inspirational Gala together. Yosef announced his engagement to Martin on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and they got married in 2017. They live together with Martin’s twins, Valentino and Matteo, who were born through surrogacy.