NEW ULM — Josh Madson isn’t a newcomer to having his art displayed in New Ulm, but he’s so popular that he’s returning with a gallery installation starting May 5 and running into mid-June.
Brie Taralson, owner of Ulm Sweet Ulm in New Ulm, said Madson’s downtown mural so impressed her that she wanted to have him back to do a gallery exhibit of his work.
“I ran into Josh and he offered to do an exhibit of his artwork, and I thought that would be a wonderful mix,” she said. “He’s internationally recognized as a photographer and has worked with major companies in the beauty industry. He’s very well recognized and is an incredible artist to have in our region. I’m excited to have him in this space with us.”
The downtown New Ulm mural is on the Thimble Box building, Madson said, and is a permanent installation featuring photos of 400 New Ulm residents that were taken in one day. His first such installation was in Mankato.
He has work displayed in cities throughout Minnesota — including a now permanent exhibit in Mankato — Wisconsin and even in Florida. He’s also in talks to expand into Los Angeles.
The images going up in Ulm Sweet Ulm on Monday are from the three-day shoot at the Coffee Hag in Mankato whereby Madson photographed 850 people.
“Those will be the portraits we’re showing in New Ulm,” Madson said.
The Community Collage exhibit is a drop-in affair 5:30-7 p.m. May 5 where people can talk with Madson. He’ll show hundreds of photographs, he said.
“Josh has a way of capturing with a camera the essence of a person,” Taralson said. “There’s something magical that happens when he gets behind a camera lens. I think his art brings people together, and then to take it a step further, he has captured individuals who represent our community. You can tell from these photos it’s more than just a portrait.
“He brings this element of humanity and he zooms into the person. It’s not an ‘us’ or ‘them,’ it’s friends and neighbors. What he brings in his art is a way to remind us of our sense of community. That’s what makes our town special and strong.”
Madson said he strives to bring a sense of joy and connection to his pieces.
“I want for all people to feel welcomed and valued and to come together,” he said. “My primary goal is I think that we are celebrating our similarities as human beings. There’s an opportunity for me as an artist to create portraits that are uplifting and I enjoy doing that. I try to bring a sense of joy into what I’m doing because that is what I want to see emulated out in the world.”
Community Collage began as a nonprofit and continues as one. Madson is known as a dynamic and prolific photographer, director and mural artist who has worked internationally from various home bases in LA, New York City and Tokyo.
He’s collaborated with photographers such as Annie Leibovitz and Jason Bell and has photographed celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Bosh and Michelle Phan.
During the pandemic, Madison relocated to his home state of Minnesota and now lives in Mankato. He works as a waiter while also pursuing his art.
The May 5 Community Collage: An Evening With Josh Madson event is free and open to the public. More information about his work can be found online at communitycollage.org.