Shifting Tones of Stillness, 2025
Oil, oil bar, and charcoal on canvas
60 x 136 in (52.4 x 345.4 cm)
Marble Player, Jamaica, 1982, 2023
Oil, acrylic, and charcoal on canvas
63 x 25.25 x 1 in (160 x 64.1 x 2.5 cm)
Up From the South, 2024
Oil and charcoal on canvas
44 x 36 in (111.8 x 91.4 cm)
Lenworth “Joonbug” McIntosh is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, California. His Jamaican Intuitive roots run deep, shaping his work and reflecting across his creative wheelhouse, which includes illustration, painting, and film-photography. An avid collector of images, McIntosh considers preservation an essential part of his practice. His paintings reference memories of the Jamaican landscape and life in its rural community. Across mediums, his work is narrative-driven, seeking to mirror the collective unconscious of the Black psyche.
Lenworth McIntosh (b. 1987, Jamaica, West Indies) received a BA in Graphic Design from McMurry University in Abilene, TX. McIntosh’s work has been exhibited nationally at venues including Long Beach Museum of Art, Tlaloc Studios, Rusha and Co. Gallery, and Franchise Gallery in Los Angeles, CA; Pt.2 Gallery in Oakland, CA; Nielsen Arts in Berkeley, CA; The Luggage Store, SWIM Gallery, Space 236 in San Francisco, CA; {neighborhood}, Epocha Shoe and Art Gallery; and at Chateau CÎROC, curated by A.J. Girard in Miami Beach, FL. McIntosh’s work has been featured in publications including New York Times, New York Magazine, Juxtapoz, KQED, SF Weekly, D Magazine, Frieze, Hypebeast, Create! Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Widewalls, Variable West, and Cool Hunting.
EDUCATION
2009
BA, Graphic Design, McMurry University, Abilene, TX
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
,
OCHI, Los Angeles, CA (forthcoming)
2025
The World Around Me - and the Worlds Within,
Frieze Focus, curated by Essence Harden, presented by OCHI, Los Angeles, CA
2023
In the Direction of Home,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2022
Scenes Behind The Scenes,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2021
Stories I Tell Myself,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2020
Self Error,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2019
Lenworth 3: Joonbug 'In Practice',
{neighborhood}, Dallas, TX
2018
Lenworth 2: Man Wearing Hat,
{neighborhood}, Dallas, TX
Mass Inc.,
First Amendment, San Fransisco, CA
2014
Lenworth,
Epocha Shoe and Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
I'd Love to See You,
organized by Juxtapoz, Rusha and Co. Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2023
Ordinary People,
organized by Tlaloc Studios, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
Proximo,
organized by Tlaloc Studios, Franchise Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1523,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2021
Chateau CÎROC,
curated by A.J. Girard, Miami Beach, FL
2020
Long Strange Trip,
Nielsen Arts, Berkley, CA
2019
Summer Friends,
Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA
2018
House Plant Show,
SWIN Gallery, San Fransisco, CA
Black Mail Program Show,
Oakland, CA
2016
Black Mail 2,
Space 236, San Fransisco, CA
2015
Black Mail,
The Luggage Store, San Fransisco, CA
RESIDENCIES & AWARDS
2025
Artist Residency, Macedonia Institute, Chatham, NY
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025
Barrant, Jordan. “Honoring the elements: Lenworth McIntosh interviewed," Variable West, Jun. 5
Kelly, Brian P. “Creative Perseverance at Frieze Los Angeles," The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 21
Lecaro, Lina. “Frieze L.A. 2025 Heats Up–and Helps Local Artists," Los Angeles Magazine, Feb. 19
Pricco, Evan. “Preview: ‘The World Around Me–and the Worlds Within,’ Lenworth McIntosh with OCHI @ Frieze Los Angeles," Juxtapoz, Feb. 10
“Los Angeles: City of Artists," Frieze, Jan. 30
2023
Muhammad, Ismail. “Letter of Recommendation: Yes, Kwanzaa Is Made Up. That’s Why It’s Great," New York Times, Dec. 19 (illustration)
Pricco, Evan. “Lenworth McIntosh Goes ‘In The Direction of Home’ at Pt. 2 Gallery," Juxtapoz, Oct. 28
“15 Black-Owned Brands We’re Shopping This Black History Month (And, Honestly, Every Month)," The Quality Edit, Feb. 9
2022
Olagbaju, Yétúndé. “Lenworth McIntosh: Life as an Open Studio," Juxtapoz, Winter (print)
Evaristo, Bernardine. Mr. Loverman, Penguin Books, Ltd.: London (Cover illustration)
Pricco, Evan. “Scenes Behind the Scenes: Esteban Samoya and Lenworth McIntosh are the Right Conversation," Juxtapoz, Jan. 19
2021
Medina, Martin. “CÎROC Continues to Amplify the Voices and Work of Black Artists with the Launch of ‘Chateau CÎROC’ During Art Week in Miami," World Red Eye, Dec. 3
Crumpton, Taylor. “A Dallas-Fort Worth Guide to Art Basel," D Magazine, Dec. 1
Pricco, Evan. “The Stories I Tell Myself: Lenworth McIntosh at Pt. 2 Gallery," Juxtapoz, Jul. 16
Segran, Elizabeth. “How 14 Black creatives got 800 companies to honor Juneteenth," Fast Company, Jun. 18
2020
Woo, Jen. “6 Black Oakland Artists to Know and Collect Now," 7x7, Sep. 30
Pricco, Evan. “pt. 2: Oakland To Show ‘Self Reliance’ In a New Solo Show by Lenworth ‘Joonbug’ McIntosh," Juxtapoz, Mar. 13
“A Poke to the Subconscious," HellaCreative
Steeber, Michael. “Apple Stores will celebrate Black History Month with over 40 inspirational sessions," 9to5mac, Jan. 24
Richie, Kameron. “Levi's® Monthly Muse: Joonbug," Levi's Off The Cuff, Nov.
2019
“New Window Art," Mandela Foods Cooperative, Feb. 13
2018
“Episode 154: Joonbug," Creative South Podcast, Dec. 6
“Shoe Palace Teams with Artist Joonbug for Nike Air Huarache QS Collaboration," Sneaker News, Jul. 26
Michel, Benjamin. “Artist Talk with Joonbug," The Cinema Smoothie, Jul. 24 (video)
Higgins, Keenan. “Nike Air Huarache x Shoe Palace 25th Anniversary Collab with Artist Joonbug," The Source, Jul. 24
Destefano, Mike. “Shoe Palace is Dropping Another Exclusive Huarache," Complex, Jul. 23
Li, Nicolaus. “Shoe Palace Continues Its 25th Anniversary Celebrations With Another Nike Air Huarache Collab," Hypebeast, Jul. 23
Popova, Ekaterina. “‘Oscillations’ and ‘Mass Inc.’ at First Amendment Gallery," Create! Magazine, Feb. 20
2017
“Joonbug’s Visuals Melt Space and Time," Wine and Bowties
Martinović, Jelena. “At First Amendment Gallery, 13 Artist Depict Natural Plain," Wide Walls, Sep. 25
Taylor, Kaila. “We Have the Power," Xpress Magazine, Nov. 6
“All the Power to the People," Street Art SF
Popova, Ekaterina. “‘Natural Plain’ at First Amendment Gallery," Create! Magazine, Sep. 21
“The Junction: Christopher Burch and Joonbug," Street Art SF
2016
“The Strategist: 13 Things That’ll Almost Definitely Sell Out: From Mejuri to Rowing Blazers," New York Magazine, Nov. 16
Gueary, Brandy. “Advice From An Artist: Joonbug", Authentically B
“Artist Highlight: Joonbug," Common Desk, May 16
Museum of Light. “Reflections in Light with Joonbug," Respect Magazine, Jul. 26
Blu, Rodney. “Street Style: How Dallas Rapper -Topic Became the Voice of Travis Bott," Central Track, Mar. 3 (podcast)
Thomas, Dalila. “Express Yourself: Graffiti Artist Lenworth ‘Joonbug’ McIntosh,, CW33 KDAF, Apr. 1
"Black Mail," Street Art SF, Aug. 20
"Meet the Maker: Joonbug," Parks Project
Robertson, Abbey. “Parks Project x Outdoor Afro," Parks Project
“Joonbug: Artist, Photographer, and Entrepreneur," Cosign Magazine
2015
Espinoza, Joshua. “Get to Know Joonbug, an Illustrator/Designer Making a Name for Himself in the Bay", Complex Magazine, Aug. 13
Thompson, Walter. “Fresh Kaufee Apparel Pop-up Tonight at Snowbird Coffee", Hoodline, Apr. 13
Weeks, Jerome. “An ‘Affair’ To Remember : A One Night Show for Ft. Worth Gallery Night," Kera, Sep. 8
Tarradell, Mario. “Kick, Push: DaVerse Lounge connects Poet, Artist," Big Thought, Nov. 20
Ghassan, Alex Frantz. “From Jamaica to the Bay, Joonbug’s Illustrated Journey," KQED Arts, Aug. 13
“The Black Mail Show: Helping San Francisco ‘Bring Back Black,’", SF Weekly, Oct. 29
“By Way of Dallas Ft. Erykah Badu, Blue The Great, Joonbug, and more," Working Not Working
“Fresh Cup of Kaufee: Enter Joonbug," Bob Cut Magazine
“G-Eazy Releases Animated Music Video for ‘Sad Boy,’", The Early Registration, Dec. 22
Coffey, Chelsea. “From Jamaica to the Bay, Joonbug’s Illustrated Journey," The Coffey Break, Aug. 26
2014
If There’s A Hell Below, Black Milk, Oct. 15 (Album cover)
Edwards, Chérmelle. “Lenworth, The Righteous Leftie", Cool Hunting, Aug. 21
Cadwalader, Zac. “A Fresh Take on Coffee T-Shirts", Sprudge, Nov. 21
Abbott, Heather. “Buggin’ Out: Joonbug Lenworth McIntosh Has A Strong Sense of Where His Innovative Art Is Headed", Central Track, Jan. 23
2013
No Poison, No Paradise, Black Milk, Oct. 15 (Album cover)
“Black Milk Releases New Album’s Track List, Full Artwork, and Video From Artist Joonbug," Audible Treats, Sep. 18
Shipton, Jamie-Maree. “Black Milk releases track list and cover art for ‘No Poison, No Paradise,’", ACCLAIM
“Hear the first track from new Black Milk album ‘No Poison, No Paradise,’", Fact Magazine