Multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and educator Joseph Cochran II returns for his second appearance on The Truth In This Art. Born and raised in East Harlem, Joseph’s practice spans photography, video, and archival work, focusing on the systems that define industrialized societies and the emotional toll of late capitalism.
In this conversation, Joseph opens up about the years he spent living and working in China, rebuilding from personal loss, and how maintaining his identity shaped the way he navigates spaces abroad and at home. He reflects on the tension between financial survival and creative ethics, why he refuses to distance himself from the communities he comes from, and the emotional weight behind many of his images.
This is a raw, thoughtful, and often funny dialogue about legacy, creative freedom, and what it means to stay grounded while moving through a world that often demands compromise.
Highlights include:
- Learning to live without depending on art to make a living—and why that helped his practice
- Why staying connected to the streets isn’t just about authenticity, but accountability
- The power of memory in his photographs—and why he remembers every shot
- Thoughts on working in Shanghai, Brussels, and the Balkans while staying rooted in NYC
- Upcoming exhibition Public Work opening July 10 in New York
🎧 Want more? Check out Joseph Cochran II’s first interview in the archive—where we talk about the early days of his work and life abroad.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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