Biography
Josh Atlas was born in Brooklyn and lived there until he was nearly two. His parents ignored his alternating silent/blaringly nonsensical protests and moved out to suburban New Jersey. Nothing of note happened for approximately thirteen more years. When he was fifteen, he took his first art class, Foundation Drawing, to fill a requirement. It turned out that he actually enjoyed art making. Or maybe he was just happy to be in a class where girls talked to him.
And so, in 2001, Josh decided to go to art school. He moved to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Art. There, he studied video, performance, public practice, and critical theory. Josh uses these media to justify what is often dancing around in underpants. In 2005, he graduated. Since then, he has been living in Pittsburgh, working at his alma mater, and exhibiting his artwork.
At age 23, he is often ashamed to admit that he is still trying really hard to grow up.
Education
Carnegie Mellon University
BFA in Fine Arts, 2005
Concentration in Electronic/Time-Based Media
Selected Exhibitions
2006
Jabberywocky vs. Dada – Artists Upstairs, Pittsburgh, PA
Men Are So! – Imeo Gallery, Berkley Arts Center, Denver CO
100% Centennial – Regina G. Miller Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2005
Toy – Fe Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Media Tonic II – Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Pittsburgh, PA
Spectacular, Spectacular – Regina G. Miller Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2004
softWorks – Future Tenant – Pittsburgh, PA
Selected Performances
2007
The Kissing Distance – To The Hills Film Screening, Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY
2005
Love Machine – Live Video Karaoke, The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
Skills – Ellis Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Bigger AND Better – The FRAME Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2004
The Chupacabra RETURNS! – Live Video Show II, The Eye, Pittsburgh, PA
Astrowolves – Live Video Show I, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Festivals and Screenings
2007
Filmideo – Red Saw Gallery, Newark, NJ
Encyclopedia Destructica: Volume Bumba – Brillobox, Pittsburgh, PA
Semiennial – Monkeytown, Brooklyn, NY
Flux 15 – Pittsburgh, PA
Semiennial II – Monkeytown, Brooklyn, NY
To The Hills – Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY
2006
Simultan2: Internatioal Experimental Video/Sound Festival – Timisoara, Romania. (catalogue produced)
PiXeLdaNce: Video Art Festival – Thessaloniki, Greece.
Selected Public Work
2005
Community Splash – East Liberty, Pittsburgh, PA
2004
Art Santa – Pittsburgh, PA
Gun Cozies – Pittsburgh, PA
Grants/Awards
2005
Samuel Rosenberg Award
Small Undergraduate Research Grant
2004
Augustine L. Porter Award
Small Undergraduate Research Grant
Selected Work Experience
Luhring Augustine
Receptionist. New York, NY. October 2006 – Present.
The Black Factory
Miss Black Factory, Performer. Various Locations. June – July 2006.
Carnegie Mellon University, School of Art
Office Associate. Pittsburgh, PA. September 2005 – May 2005.
Carnegie Mellon University, STUDIO for Creative Inquiry
Teacher’s Assistant for Grisha Coleman. Pittsburgh, PA. Fall 2005.
Echo :: System, Action Station #2: The Desert
Production Assistant. Pittsburgh, PA. September 2005.
Regina G. Miller Gallery
Exhibition Intern. Pittsburgh, PA. Summer 2005.