Joshua Davis

Joshua Davis uses generative composition programs written in Flash, Python, and JavaScript. He says his main creative input is the code behind his artwork. His Random Controlled Color application enables him to edit out colors singly or generate new iterations. He is into free-flowing consciousness, and he tends to never sketch—planning and sketching is too rigid for his taste. Like many artists, he lets the work lead him instead of the other way around
(http://www.designmuseum.org/design/joshua-davis).

One of his major influences is Jackson Pollock. Davis is not a fan of Pollock’s style per se, but he is interested in the painter’s process. He identifies himself as a painter and admires Pollock’s use of chance and randomness in his work. "I'm going to take that idea further: The painting is never the same from one second to the next." This is a short video of the artist at The Getty Lecture Design Conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rCO4pcFsfw
(http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.03/joshdavis.html?pg=2&topic=joshdavis&topic_set=).

Joshua Davis doesn’t find inspiration on the net, but from "observations in life." He explains how the urban life shapes its own environment and creates symbiotic relationships between its elements. He gives the following example,"The tree[s] know [their] boundaries and the trucks make sure they remember them. Creating objects or relationships in art, design or programming are no different. I’m inspired by these systems and relationships and try to bring them to my work" (http://www.designmuseum.org/design/joshua-davis).

Despite the apparently unstructured and chaotic nature of his work, Joshua Davis has many corporate clients. According to him, his clients want to use his applications because they are "constantly morphing... so the content always appears to be fresh" (http://www.id-mag.com/article/FlashForward). Each year Joshua Davis Studios accepts a limited number of projects. His main goal is to merge his theories of generative art with commerce and design to create infinite compositions,each "as unique as your fingerprint." Among his clients are: BMW, Kanye West, Motorola, Nike, Volkswagen, Sony, Motown Records, Barneys, Puff Daddy, Bad Boy Entertainment, Universal Records, Atlantic Records, HBO, Canon, Nokia, Charles Schwab and others (http://www.joshuadavis.com/).

Joshua Davis’ personal sites like praystation.com, once-upon-a-forest.com, and Dreamless were crucial to establish his reputation in the design community. "He was no longer viewed as just a clever Web designer, but as an artist using code as a medium" (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.03/joshdavis.html).