Current Exhibition
Joshua Williams: Cultural Anthropology
Exhibition Dates: June 13 – July 5, 2026
Opening reception: Saturday, June 13, 6-9pm
Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sundays, 12-5pm
The work of Joshua Williams combines ancient cultural symbolism (including references to religious texts, genealogies, and historical documents) with contemporary graphic media and hip-hop culture.
What similar narratives are repeated as throughlines in this expansive chronological continuum? What signs and motifs consistently arise? How might technology mediate our relationship to and understanding of ancient narratives, signs, and motifs? These questions grow out of Joshua’s evolving sense of identity, growing up in a culturally complicated environment.
This exhibition at Staple Goods highlights the importance and ubiquity of cross-cultural intersections. Josh’s study of ancient histories foregrounds interconnected networks rather than isolated nations and peoples. Though historical treatment frequently centers conflict and clash, there was also vital exchange or in some cases, unity. This broader framing of the past can help decode and unravel certain present cultural dynamics.
Joshua Williams (he/him) is a St. Louis, MO based artist, originally from Baltimore, MD. He is a 2024 graduate of Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA. He was recently awarded a Regional Arts Commission Grant in St. Louis and has been an artist in residence with Mineral House in Chattanooga and the Harrison Center in Indianapolis. His work has been included in exhibitions in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chattanooga, and various venues in Georgia and Florida. This is his first solo exhibition in New Orleans.
For more information, please contact staplegoodsnola@gmail.com or 504-914-8355.
To contact Joshua, please email jdjoshuawilliams@gmail.com.
Connections: Staple Goods 10th Anniversary Exhibition Catalog
Exhibition catalog commemorates the collective’s 10th anniversary exhibition, Connections (May 2021), and is available for $5.
Curated by Laura Richens. Text by Amy Mackie. Book Design by Tiffany Lin. Printed at Paper Machine.
Participating Artists: Minka/Thomasine, Aaron Collier, Robyn Denny, William DePauw, Abe Geasland, Daniel Kelly IV, Kristina Knipe, J Knoblach, Norah Lovell, Kaori Maeyama, Anne Nelson, Jack Niven, Laura Richens, Cynthia Scott, Sadie Sheldon, Lorna Williams