Joe Coleman: podcast appearances and interviews

Joseph Coleman, born on November 22, 1955, is an American painter, illustrator, actor, and performance artist based in Brooklyn, New York. His work is characterized by an interest in historical arcana and personae, which often feature prominently in his paintings. Coleman has been described as the 'walking ghost of Old America' by his wife, photographer Whitney Ward, reflecting his deep engagement with cultural and historical subjects. The New York Times compared his art to the sideshow banners that might have been painted by Breughel or Bosch if commissioned by P. T. Barnum. Additionally, the publication Berlin's Tagesspiegel noted that he holds a mirror to his times in a manner reminiscent of George Grosz in the 1920s. Coleman’s studio and residence, known as the Odditorium, functions as a living museum showcasing artifacts, objects, and documents from various museums including wax museums, crime museums, churches, pathology museums, and sideshows. This environment underscores his fascination with themes of Americana and the bizarre, which he explores through his multidisciplinary artistic practice.