A hairless cat peers out from the corner of the drawing, layers of skin folding one upon the other, its lack of fur accentuating its pointy ears and almond eyes. In the background, an expressionless young man sits, as the title explains, “Marooned in an overpriced apartment.” Joshua Salad’s art may not be for everyone, but it is certain to start a conversation.
Salad refers to his style as surrealistic. His illustrations are done mostly in charcoal and ink and portray fantastical creatures that often defy logic. Human figures that are anatomically correct … but with heads consisting of lush plant life. A woman with the ears of a bat.
“My art is a short expression of emotion through time,” says Salad. “I might begin by drawing a figure and then think of what I can add to adjust the narrative.”
Adding unexpected elements to his drawings, Salad creates small worlds that surprise and delight some viewers and cause others to shake their heads in confusion. He agrees that his work is not for everyone but hopes that it can be a conduit for conversation.
Growing up as “an inner-city kid in Philly,” says Salad, “I gravitated towards comic books and heavily illustrated literature. I had dyslexia, but was undiagnosed for many years, so as a kid, stories told with images just worked better for me. But it never occurred to me then that I could create my own stories with pictures.”
As a junior in high school, Salad began watching online drawing tutorials and started practicing.
“As my sketches accumulated, I was inadvertently creating a small art portfolio,” he says.
He applied to Gordon College with the idea of majoring in communications and minoring in art. But when he met with the head of the art department at his interview, he was encouraged to continue adding to his portfolio and consider eventually switching to an art major. The following year, he did just that.
A few months before Salad was to graduate in 2020, the pandemic shut down the entire campus and he was forced to scramble to find a place to live. He found an apartment in Haverhill and continued his studies online.
“After graduation, I began a free-lance art business, but needed to have steady income,” he says, “so I pieced together part-time jobs in a frame shop and a coffee shop and continued my art on the side.”
Now married and recently relocating to Methuen, Salad works at Drop Cafe in Haverhill while continuing to market his illustrations, mostly as fine art to individuals.
“The coffee shop allows me to meet so many people, and the conversation usually turns to my art,” he says. “It gives me a chance to market my work the way that I like; I need that personal connection.”
Salad has met several collectors who have since bought his pieces.
“I incorporate my skills to help expand their collections with artwork that fits into their existing collections,” he says.
Salad dabbles occasionally in sculpting and painting but prefers charcoal or ink drawings. He keeps his prices fair, believing that everyone should be able to afford original art. Very rarely does he create additional prints of his original work.
“I think that a piece loses its energy and soul when it is duplicated, but having said that, if someone cannot afford the original, I sometimes will consider making a print. I want to share my work and make it attainable to anyone who connects with it.”
Salad’s art is often controversial. His series, “The Flower Boys” depicts male figures with heads of textured plant leaves.
“I am challenging the way that men are generally portrayed,” he explains, “as I explore what it means to be masculine. People tend to view the female form as more beautiful; they have preconceived notions of what a male figure should look like. I am pushing the gender roles a bit when I place a typically feminine form like a flowing leafy plant onto a male body.”
And while these pieces may not resonate with everyone, they often open a dialogue.
“Even if someone doesn’t like my work, I love it when they ask questions, rather than just walking away,” says Salad.
Displaying his work at local art shows, he is always ready to engage in conversation.
“My goal as an artist is to create those personal connections,” he says.
Salad is often asked if he is considering writing a graphic novel as his next venture.
“I don’t really have a concrete plan at this stage,” he says. “At the moment, I enjoy creating individual pieces; I might like to put together a book of my illustrations. I am still very early in my art career, and I am still figuring out where to best put my energy.”
Learn more on Instagram at josh.salad.
Patricia Bruno is a Methuen native, currently living in Haverhill. A writer and photographer, she is also the owner of The Winged Rabbit gift shop in downtown Haverhill.
Salad explores gender roles in his Flower Boys series.
Some of Salad’s work is dark in nature, like this “Bug Collector.”
Salad is always pleased when his art opens up a dialogue; this piece usually sparks conversation.
