Ten years ago, Josh Usmani quit his day job to pursue a career as a full-time artist. Months later, the 2008 economic meltdown sent Josh s aspirations into uncertainty. His lifelong monetary issues eventually became the inspiration for using currency as an art medium. What began as a form of tongue-in-cheek political protest has evolved into a visually spectacular exploration of value. By drawing on real currency, Josh encourages viewers to explore creative expression and question the concept of value itself. He has certainly altered these notes’ worth, but whether Josh has increased or decreased their value is up for viewers to decide. Altered Value: The Art of Funny Money features more than 150 of Josh’s fantastically colorful drawings on currency from the U.S. and more than 35 countries.
