The Art of Storytelling and Legacy
For American artist Joseph Mack, professionally known as Joey Withinarts, art has become a way of celebrating lives, preserving memories and bringing people together. Born in Virginia and now based in South Carolina, he began drawing at an early age, but it was the unexpected sale of a drawing while working as a receptionist in Greenville that encouraged him to take his talent further.
Known for his portraits of musicians, cultural figures and community leaders, Mack has developed a practice that extends well beyond the canvas. From creating artwork honouring Reverend Jesse Jackson to donating paintings to hospitals and community organisations, he has consistently used his creativity to recognise the stories and achievements of others.
His own story has also become an important part of his work. Through his book Discovering Joey Withinarts and a documentary in development, he is reflecting on the experiences that have shaped him and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. In this interview, he discusses his beginnings, the people who have inspired him, the importance of giving back and why he believes the most meaningful art comes from within.
You grew up in Virginia and later made South Carolina your home. Looking back at your childhood, what first attracted you to drawing, and did you ever imagine it would become such an important part of your life?
I grew up in Virginia, and drawing became something that naturally connected with me. At the time, I didn’t know where it would take me. I wasn’t someone who grew up thinking I would become an author or build a career around art. Drawing was simply something that came from within me.
Looking back now, I can see that those early moments were the beginning of something much bigger. I eventually moved to South Carolina and made it my home, but Virginia will always be where my story began.
You have described selling one of your drawings while working as a receptionist in Greenville as a turning point. What do you remember about that experience, and how did it change the way you saw yourself as an artist?
I was working as a receptionist in downtown Greenville, and I would draw while I was at my desk. One of those drawings ended up being sold. That experience meant a lot to me because it showed me that something I was creating could have value to someone else.
It helped me look at myself differently. I started realising that this wasn’t just something I did for myself. My artwork could connect with other people, and that gave me more confidence to keep going.
Your portraits have celebrated musicians, political figures and people who have made a difference in their communities. What draws you to a particular person, and how do you begin to capture their character and story through your artwork?
I’m drawn to people who have a story, people who have made an impact, overcome something, inspired others or contributed something meaningful.
When I create a portrait, I’m not just thinking about getting someone’s face right. I’m thinking about the person behind the face and what they represent. I want the artwork to communicate something about their life and their impact.
You’ve had the opportunity to meet and create work for some remarkable people, including Reverend Jesse Jackson. Is there a particular encounter that has stayed with you or changed the way you think about your art?
Meeting Reverend Jesse Jackson was definitely meaningful to me. Experiences like that remind me that art can open doors and create connections that you might never expect.
It also reinforced something I’ve learned throughout my journey: you never know where your artwork can take you or who it can bring you into contact with.
Giving back to the community has been a significant part of your career, including donating artwork to hospitals and other organisations. Where does that desire to use your creativity to help others come from?
For me, art has never been only about selling a painting. I’ve always believed that if I have a talent, I should be able to use it to help somebody else.
I’ve donated artwork to children’s hospitals, nursing homes and organisations, including the NAACP. Those experiences are important because the artwork becomes bigger than me. It becomes something that can bring encouragement, recognition or inspiration to somebody else.
Your work often commemorates people’s lives and achievements. When creating a portrait that carries considerable personal meaning for someone else, how do you approach the responsibility of telling their story?
I take that responsibility seriously. When somebody asks me to create something that represents an important person or moment in their life, I understand that the artwork can carry emotional meaning.
I want to respect the person I’m painting and the people receiving the artwork. I’m not trying to change their story. I’m trying to honour it through my art.
Your book, Discovering Joey Withinarts, takes readers through your personal journey. What prompted you to write it, and was there a particular experience that made you feel your story needed to be told?
Discovering Joey Withinarts is about my journey, where I came from, what I’ve experienced, how I developed as an artist and how I became the person I am today.
I wasn’t someone who grew up thinking I would become a writer. But eventually, I realised that I had a story worth documenting. I wanted to tell my story in my own words and preserve the experiences that helped shape me.
The book is also about legacy. I want my children and future generations to know where this journey came from.
Writing about your own life is very different from expressing yourself through painting. Did working on the book bring back memories or lead you to understand parts of your life differently?
Absolutely. Writing about your life makes you stop and look at things that you may have moved past without really thinking about them.
Painting allows me to express something visually. Writing made me go back through memories and put those experiences into words. It gave me another way to understand my own journey and see how different chapters connected to one another.
The name Joey Withinarts has become central to your creative identity. What does that name mean to you personally, and has its significance changed as your career has developed?
Joey Withinarts represents the idea that the art comes from within me.
It’s not just a name. It represents my experiences, my emotions, my memories and everything that has influenced me as a person and as an artist.
As I’ve grown, the name has taken on an even bigger meaning because I’ve realised that my artwork is only one part of the story. Joey Withinarts has become connected to my art, my writing, my storytelling and the legacy I’m trying to build.
Your artistic journey has taken you beyond the United States, including connections with people in Ghana. What have these international experiences meant to you, and how do you hope to build on them?
My connection with Ghana has been very meaningful because it showed me that something I created in America could reach people internationally.
Being interviewed and recognised by people in Ghana made me realise that the story I’m telling doesn’t have to stop at one city or one state. Art can cross borders.
I want to continue building those international connections and allow Joey Withinarts to reach people around the world.
Alongside your artwork and book, you have been developing a documentary about your life. What aspects of your story do you particularly want to share through film that might be difficult to communicate through painting or writing?
Film gives people another way to experience the journey. Through a documentary, people can hear my voice, see the places connected to my story and understand the person behind the artwork. I want people to see that my journey wasn’t created overnight. There were different chapters, challenges, accomplishments and moments that shaped me.
The documentary helps bring those experiences to life in a way that is different from a painting or a book.
Having the opportunity to share my story with The FLUX Review in London is another meaningful connection. I appreciate the interest in my work and the chance to introduce Joey Withinarts to new audiences in the UK. Every connection like this reminds me that art and storytelling can bring people together, regardless of where they live.
You’ve achieved a great deal since those early days of drawing at your desk in Greenville. What still excites you most about creating, and what would you like to achieve in the next chapter of your life?
What still excites me is knowing that I haven’t reached the end of my story.
I started out drawing at a desk, and now I’m an artist, author and storyteller with work reaching beyond South Carolina and beyond the United States.
I want to continue creating, telling stories, honouring people through my artwork and building something that my children and future generations can look back on.
For me, the next chapter isn’t about simply becoming famous. It’s about creating a legacy and showing what can happen when you believe in what comes from within you.
That’s what Joey Withinarts means to me.
A Personal Tribute: Honouring Immanuel Aleem and Moshea Through Art
By Joey Withinarts
Continuing his reflections on family, perseverance and the importance of preserving personal histories, Joey Withinarts shares the story behind a painting dedicated to his cousin, professional boxer Immanuel Aleem, and Moshea. The work reflects his belief in the power of art to celebrate the people closest to us and preserve their stories for future generations.
Legacy is something that deserves to be remembered, celebrated and preserved. For me, one of the most meaningful ways to do that is through art.
I created an original painting to honour Immanuel Aleem and Moshea, recognising their journey, their strength and the legacy they represent.
As an artist, I believe a painting can become more than an image. It can become a piece of history, a visual reminder of the people, stories and moments that deserve to be remembered.
This painting is personal to me because Immanuel Aleem is my cousin. I wanted to create something meaningful that celebrates him and Moshea while also showing the importance of family, perseverance and legacy.
Immanuel’s journey as a professional boxer represents years of dedication, discipline, sacrifice and hard work. Behind every accomplishment are countless moments that the public may never see: the training, the setbacks, the determination to keep moving forward and the commitment required to pursue a dream.
Through this painting, I wanted to capture more than a likeness. I wanted to capture meaning.
For me, honouring Immanuel and Moshea is about recognising the people behind the names and making sure their stories are not forgotten.
As Joey Withinarts, my mission has always been to use my art and storytelling to honour people and preserve moments that matter. I believe our stories become part of our legacy, and art gives us another way to keep those stories alive.
This painting is my personal tribute.
It represents family, perseverance, dedication, strength and legacy.
I am proud to have created this piece and honoured to present it as a reminder that the work people do today can become part of the history remembered tomorrow.
This is more than a painting.
It is a tribute. It is family history. It is a celebration of legacy. And it is art created from within.
For more information, visit Joey’s Instagram
