Living Together and Creating Together: Miyoshi Barosh and Jeff Colson

Artists Miyoshi Barosh and Jeff Colson, artists at the COLA 2015 Individual Artist Fellowship in Barnsdall Park aren’t the type to flaunt their relationship in front of others. But when it comes into light, they have seem to have no problem answering questions about it even if they come off a little shy. Although they are artists, they say they’re like any other couple… just slightly different.

Barosh was born in Los Angeles, but moved often as a child. She moved to Rhode Island to attend Rhode Island School of Design for college. After she lived in New York City for six years while Colson “has never really left Southern California.” Barosh ended up living in Palm Springs and Colson lived in Yucca Valley.

Barosh and Colson met in Pioneertown at a bar & grill with live music named Pappy and Harriet’s, North of Yucca Valley. Pappy and Harriet’s was a hot spot where artists would go to socialize on their free time. The couple now live together and do most of their activities with each other.

“Living with Jeff is pretty easy, being childless makes it particularly easy. We have some arguments over division of labor (chores) around the house, but, in general, we work it out,” said Barosh.

They both have two Boston Terriers that they love walking in the mornings along with going to the gym together. They argue about who will do the chores but nothing that cannot be worked out. Although, she admits that coming home to cook is not something they do and have a habit of eating out. “Art-making is often just a series of decisions and the last thing I want to think about is what to buy at the grocery store and how to cook it,” Barosh explains.

“We’re probably like lots of couples except since neither of us works a typical 9-5 day we see a lot of one another during the day.” says Barosh.

Barosh explains that since they do not have typical jobs they see each other a lot throughout the day but do not mind it at all. She says they are both social and help each other with project inputs and having a second pair of hands help a lot. Going to museums and gallery openings are something they both find helpful. They function as one another’s sound board.

Barosh and Colson also help each other on the others art pieces by taking the role as an assistant. If Colson is not available or it is beyond his skill level, help would be hired. They do take influence from each other which Colson says is inevitable. The most common influence seen is having small sculptures or larger works that sit on pedestals yet both still have very distinctive styles of work.

They also have different audiences which helps with not being competitive or jealous. Barosh explains, “I am a more conceptual artist and have a background as an art book/journal editor so I’m more comfortable writing about my work.” They have also had the same grants so far: the Guggenheim Fellowship and the COLA Fellowship.

Colson has a studio in San Gabriel but both often work from home. Barosh uses Colson’s studio if she is working with a project that creates a lot of sawdust or is using a torch. Although, they keep their studio visits separate to keep their business dealings separate.

The couple have said that they may collaborate in the future, seeing as they do not have a reason not to, but are unsure when that project would happen. Only time will tell what these two artist have up their sleeves next.