I Won't Leave as I Came ... Oscar Joyo
& installation views
Oscar Joyo’s second solo exhibition with the gallery
Born in Malawi and based in Chicago, Joyo returns to the roots of his origin story, exploring a childhood he barely remembers through the eyes of an American who doesn’t always feel accepted. This show marks a return to his signature photo-realistic portraiture, expanding on his ongoing series Ubuntu—a Chichewa word meaning, “I am what I am because of all of you.” The work reflects the power of community and the duality of his identity as both an African immigrant and a Black American.
This exhibition takes his exploration of identity further, featuring larger canvases, rich textures, and vivid, cosmic-inspired color schemes. Tobacco plants—a major Malawian export used in healing and sacred rituals—glow with bioluminescence, while thermal and infrared skin tones give his subjects a futuristic edge, turning Blackness into a symbol of evolution, revolution, and resilience.
Recent political pressures on immigrants have led Joyo to revisit themes of migration, aiming to portray immigration as a source of strength rather than fear. His work reflects the complex emotions of anger, sadness, and longing for his homeland while finding connections between Malawi and Chicago. As a Black immigrant in a city he loves, he continues to evolve and grow. When he finally returns to Malawi, he will not leave as he came.
This show will be on display through October 4.
Standard gallery hours are 12-5pm, Wednesday through Saturday.
For collector inquires, please review the catalog and click on the enquire buttons.