Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Mcgarvey
Hi Joshua, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey began with a deep curiosity about art, design, and the materials we often overlook. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts from Ball State University followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota, I spent years exploring various creative disciplines. My work naturally evolved toward upcycling, where I found the intersection of sustainability and artistic expression. This led to the creation of Uselding Fridays, a multidisciplinary brand I founded to explore and push the boundaries of what can be made from discarded materials.
Uselding Fridays is shrouded in mystery, much like the concept of transformation itself. The brand embraces both innovation and sustainability, turning dormant materials into distinctive fashion, bags, and art. The name itself carries a sense of intrigue, inviting people into a world where creativity meets the unknown. It’s a space where we blend fashion, sculpture, video, and photography to tell stories about identity, illusion, and our relationship with the things we discard.
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of being recognized with fellowships and grants, including the Jerome Emerging Artist Fellowship in 2018, the Art(ists) on the Verge 2015-2106, and Artist Initiative Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board. One highlight was a 2022 exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which combined sculpture, video, performance, and photography to explore themes of identity and illusion.
Today, I continue to build Uselding Fridays as a space where creativity knows no bounds, where each piece and experience invites exploration and challenges conventional ideas of what art, fashion, and sustainability can be.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. Early on, one of my biggest challenges was finding the balance between creativity and the constraints of using recycled materials to create functional, aesthetically pleasing products. There were moments of self-doubt, especially as I questioned whether a sustainability-focused practice could truly thrive in the art and design world.
Receiving funded fellowships gave me some confidence to keep pushing forward. But even today, I continue to face the challenge of educating and engaging my audience in the importance of sustainability—not just in design, but in the broader conversation about consumption and waste.
These struggles, however, have shaped my work and refined my vision.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Specializing in upcycling, I create handbags and clothing by repurposing and collaging secondhand garments/materials, transforming dormant materials into unique, functional pieces. My approach challenges traditional fashion cycles and encourages a new way of thinking about materials and consumption. I’m proud of how my work combines creativity and purpose, whether in wearable pieces or in installations that provoke thought about how we see and interact with the world around us. Through both my fashion and art, I aim to invite viewers to reconsider identity, materiality, and the narratives we construct. More specifically, my new limited edition collection of bags called The Key is something I’m proud of because of the experience I built around it. The concept, the story of the material, and the design blend into a a truly unique collection.
What are your plans for the future?
My new collection, The Key, marks a significant turning point in my work, as it reimagines green screen fabric from my 2022 exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Originally used in the installation as a medium for visual storytelling, this vibrant material has now been repurposed into a limited collection of handbags. It’s a perfect example of how I love to experiment with materials and see what they want to become—this fabric, which once helped create fantastical worlds in video, now serves as the canvas for a completely new narrative in fashion.
The Key Collection is available in a limited run of just ten pieces, each one a unique blend of artistry and functionality. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, making them a truly special addition to any collection. The bags can be purchased through my website, www.useldingfridays.com, and every purchase includes a custom dust bag, a selected sci-fi paperback from my personal collection, a limited edition eco-friendly Uselding Fridays toothbrush in a custom pouch, and the authentication card with a link to special content including information concerning the care of the bag and our lifetime repair policy.
Moving forward, I plan to continue exploring new shapes, fabrics, and technologies, taking inspiration from unexpected places. I’m also excited to expand the experience surrounding my work. I’m eager to collaborate with other artists and designers, experimenting with new forms and continuing to innovate. I am open for custom pieces created from pieces that people provide, like sentimental clothing or blankets. I want Uselding Fridays to remain an open space for creativity and innovation.