Joan Cox (born 1969) paints to make tenderness, queer love, and personal memories visible and tangible. The artist lives in Baltimore, USA, and has been exploring the intimate lives of lesbian couples for over twenty years. Luminous colors, vibrant brushstrokes, and multifaceted symbolism connect personal experiences with larger social and emotional themes.
Joan Cox grew up in a time when LGBTQ+ identities were often marginalized or rendered invisible. Painting, photography, graphic design, and writing became ways for her to tell stories that were rarely featured in the mainstream.
In 2005, she moved to New Orleans with her wife and opened Moxy Studios on Magazine Street. After Hurricane Katrina, she remained in the city for two more years, continuing to run her gallery and supporting artists in rebuilding their community.
In 2007, Cox returned to the East Coast to begin her Master's degree in Provincetown, Massachusetts. There, she found the courage to fully integrate her queer identity into her artistic work. Her portraits of lesbian couples speak of intimacy, care, and the diversity of queer lived realities.
Joan Cox holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Towson University and a Master of Fine Arts from the Low-Residency program at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Provincetown. Her most recent solo exhibition, "Side by Side," was shown at Towson University in June 2025. She also participated in the inaugural edition of the queer art fair "Immortal 25" in Mexico City.
Her works have received international awards, including the Not Real Art Grant (2022), 2nd Prize at the Women United International Art Prize (2025), inclusion in the VAA100 Top International Artists (2025), and as a finalist for the Baker Artist Award (2026).
