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Compston was the director of conceptual art gallery Factual Nonsense in Hoxton, London. He organised the Fête Worse Than Death events in the late 90s, which featured YBAs Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing, Gavin Turk and Gary Hume & Gilbert & George. After Joshua¹s death, his mother chose Green to paint his portrait with the help of photographs, his death mask and fond memories.
"Compston was a pivotal personality in the Shoreditch art scene of the mid 1990s, until his death at the age of 25 in March 1996. An enigmatic figure, his great creative energy was the driving force of his life, art his weapon." -The Art of Factual Nonsense by Jeremy Cooper.
In 1996 during Compston's final year studying at The Courtauld Institute he organised its first ever contemporary art exhibition, featuring many of these YBA artists. This tradition has been continued with a biannual exhibition organised at The Courtauld Institute called 'The East Wing Collection'. Nicola's portrait of Joshua is in the permanent collection of 'The East Wing Collection' at the Courtauld Institue, London.
Joshua Compston, Oil on board