Josef Valentin Jawed’s practice is grounded in a deep commitment to human rights, particularly concerning the lives of children and women. Working primarily in oil painting, he has developed a meticulous technique and expressive detail, using his craft to portray powerful and often difficult narratives. His works center on themes of freedom, oppression and resilience, blending precise brushwork with emotionally charged imagery to illuminate complex social realities.

Jawed’s artistic vision is shaped by his early experiences in Afghanistan and his observations of injustice in his homeland. After moving to Sweden at the age of twelve, he settled in Nybro and joined a painting club in 2019, where he met artist Marcus Åkesson, who became a major inspiration and mentor. These formative encounters laid the foundation for a practice that weaves personal memory together with political critique, creating paintings that evoke empathy, awareness and reflection. In his recent exhibition ’Deprived of Freedom’ at WAY gallery Sthlm, he focused on women’s and children’s voices under systems of constraint, exploring how freedom can be limited not only by physical barriers but also by cultural norms and psychological trauma.

Josef Valentin Jawed (b. 2003 in Afghanistan) is a Stockholm-based autodidact artist.