Seeing Places From Above

There’s something truly captivating about seeing a place from a bird’s-eye view. Streets become patterns, landmarks turn into symbols, and entire cities feel both vast and intimate at once. That perspective sits at the heart of Josh Seubert’s work, the illustrator behind Townsville Art.

The Origins of Townsville

Josh began Townsville in 2016, though the roots of the work stretch back much further. A lifelong fascination with architecture, geography, and maps eventually converged into a single visual language: meticulously illustrated city and campus layouts composed of dozens of iconic landmarks, collaged together like a puzzle. Each composition is drawn entirely from above, honoring the idea that architecture is meant to be appreciated not only at street level, but from the sky as well.

Research as Practice

Every illustration is the result of deep research and careful plotting—often requiring 40 hours or more per piece. Josh immerses himself in Google Earth, aerial photography, and historical references, studying each location before translating it into line. That research process, he says, is one of his favorite parts of the work. Its a slow and intentional way of getting to know a city or campus.

Time, Detail, and Place

Some projects take months. His expansive Milwaukee cityscape, for example, was developed over four months between January and May of 2020, resulting in a dense, highly detailed portrait of the city he calls home. While his university illustrations have become especially popular—often given as graduation or milestone gifts—the same level of care and precision defines every piece.

Influences and Inspiration

Josh draws inspiration from both place and history. He credits retired artist John Pils’ 1980s illustration of the St. Louis skyline—his former hometown—as a formative influence. That blend of nostalgia, structure, and graphic clarity continues to echo through his work today.

From Festivals to Full-Time

Before Townsville became a full-time pursuit, Josh sold early designs at Milwaukee’s many art festivals. The response was immediate. Demand grew quickly—from festival-goers, gift shops, and customers across the country—and within a year he was able to leave his day job and focus entirely on expanding the work into new cities, campuses, and formats. Today, he owns a studio and gallery in downtown Milwaukee and continues to grow the Townsville catalog.

Life and Work

Josh lives nearby with his wife Amber, their three sons—Martin, Malcolm, and Ralph—and two dogs, Alex and Fievel. If you attend an art festival in Milwaukee or a surrounding Midwest city, there’s a good chance you’ll find Josh and his assistants there, sharing the stories behind the drawings.

Looking Ahead

As Townsville continues to evolve, Josh is setting his sights on increasingly ambitious projects, including a comprehensive illustration of all five boroughs of New York City—his most detailed undertaking yet. Like everything he creates, it will be built slowly, thoughtfully, and from above.

At Bazaar Collaborative, we are honored to work with Josh and support him in his creative practice.