Josh Brooks is a Baltimore-based artist known for his distinctive approach to figurative painting, where vibrant color, expressive gesture, and a spirit of romantic rebellion converge. Raised in Cold Spring, New York, Brooks was immersed in art from an early age, studying drawing and painting while dedicating much of his youth to competitive hockey. When a severe leg injury abruptly ended his athletic trajectory, he turned to his love of art, finding healing through his artistic practice. This commitment led him to earn a post-baccalaureate degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art. After finishing his studies, he made Baltimore his home.

Drawing on the complexities of his suburban upbringing, Brooks rejects its cultural pull toward precision and perfection. He instead embraces a deliberate sense of “ordered chaos.” His work balances recognizable forms with loose, dripping veils of bold, intermingling color. There is an intentional release of control that mirrors his commitment to honoring imperfection and the unpredictable nature of the human experience. This tension between structure and spontaneity serves as a visual response to a world increasingly shaped by algorithmic ideals, reaffirming the beauty of what is raw, vulnerable, and deeply human.

Brooks maintains an active studio practice in Baltimore. His work has been featured in six solo exhibitions in the city, including two at the Highlandtown Gallery. His paintings have also appeared in numerous group shows in Baltimore and at Anderson Contemporary Gallery in New York City, establishing him as a compelling and continually evolving voice in contemporary figurative painting. His work is held in private collections throughout the United States.