About Joe
Joe was born in a Naval Hospital in the Northeast United States. At a very early age, he took an interest in art. His first inspiration came from cartoons, Star Wars, and D&D books his babysitters would use to entertain him. Over the years, he consumed anything art-related, using every free minute to draw.
After he graduated high school, he worked his way through college, painting murals and doing graphic design for a local paper. Joe attended Paier College of Art and received a BFA in illustration/fine arts in 2000. While in college, he also began showing in galleries in New York and Connecticut and continues to do so. He has been a fixture in the Connecticut art scene since graduating from Paier, organizing art shows, managing galleries, and showing his work. He has also shown and sold his work internationally.
His style is considered to be Pop-Surrealism. His work has been described as "whimsical with a bite." Joe has been called "prolific, " partly because the characters he creates pop out of his imagination, and he is compelled to give them life." He mostly works with mixed media or oils for his 2d work. Contemporary artists Gris Grimly, Alex Pardee, H. R. Giger, and Greg Simkins heavily influenced Joe's drawings and paintings. In recent years he has been exploring sculpture. Vinyl toys, action figures, and artists such as Hans Bellmer, Joseph Cornell, and Fred Stuhr have influenced his sculptures.
Joe currently shares a studio with his wife in Connecticut. He is working on perfecting his sculpting techniques and continues to create characters that are imaginative and
curiously strange.
Clients
LEGO, Weston Woods, Preview CT Magazine, Preview MASS Magazine, The Hartford Advocate, The New Haven Advocate, The Valley Advocate, Fairfield County Weekly, Westchester County Weekly
What I've Been Up to...
2022:
Boston Fan Expo, Boston, MA
2019:
Boston Fan Expo, Boston, MA
2018:
Boston Fan Expo, Boston, MA
Designer Con, California
2017:
Terrificon, CT
2015:
Hartford Comic Con, Hartford, CT
CT Comic Con, CT
2014:
“Artist for AIDS” Participated in a Group Exhibition/fundraiser at Artspace, Hartford, CT
"Past Present Future" Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650, Middletown, CT
Exhibited at Hartford CT´s Open Studios
2013:
Atwater Studios “Art Show”, Springfield, MA
“Creepy Eepy” , Participated in a Group Exhibition at FOE, Northhampton, MA
2012:
Custom Munny Show at Paris in Plantsville Gallery, Plantsville, CT
2011:
Published in: "1,000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear, and Art" book by Dr. Grymm
"LEGO After Dark" Participated in a Group Exhibition at FOE, Northhampton, MA
2010:
Appeared in: Neurotic Film's Documentary "I AM STEAMPUNK!"
The Libertine Collective "Scarlet", Participated in a Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
"Steampunk Bizarre 2", Participated in a Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
"Bohemia" Participated in a Group Exhibition at Alchemy Juice Bar, Hartford, CT
2009:
"Dia De Los Muertos" Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
"The Addams Family Gathering", Organized and Participated in a Selected Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
"Art Without Judges", Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
The Libertine Collective "Bestia Phasmatis", Participated in a Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
The Odd Ball at Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
The Libertine Collective "ReArt Exhibit", Co-organized and Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
LEGO Private Show, Participated in a Group Exhibition at LEGO Systems, Inc., Enfield, CT
2008:
"Twinkies and Robots", Organized and Participated in a Six Artists Show at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
"The Haunted Gallery", Organized and Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
"Art Without Judges", Co-organized and Participated in a Group Exhibition at MAC 650 Gallery, Middletown, CT
Real Party at Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Illustrated Covers for The Hartford Advocate, The New Haven Advocate, Fairfield County Weekly
Column Illustrator For the "News of the Weird" Column for The Hartford Advocate, The New Haven Advocate, Fairfield County Weekly
2007:
"Circus Sideshow", Organized and Participated in a Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
Real Party at Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Solo Exhibition at Tisane Restaurant, Hartford, CT
Illustrated Covers for The Hartford Advocate
2006:
"Open Your Mind", Organized and Participated in a Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
Solo Exhibition at Tisane Restaurant, Hartford, CT
Illustrated for Preview CT Magazine
Illustrated for Preview Mass Magazine
Illustrated Covers for The Hartford Advocate
2005:
"Nuova Anima", Three Man Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
Illustrated for Preview CT Magazine
Exhibited at Hartford CT´s Open Studios
2004:
"Recent Paintings", Three Man Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
Solo Exhibition at Tisane Restaurant, Hartford, CT
Illustrated for Preview CT Magazine
Exhibited at Hartford CT´s Open Studios
2003:
Solo Exhibition at ArtSpace Hartford Gallery, Hartford, CT
Cow Parade
Exhibited at Hartford CT´s Open Studios
Illustrated for Preview CT Magazine
Exhibited at the Leonardo Challenge, Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, CT
2002:
Group exhibition at Gallery 53, Meriden, CT
Exhibited at Hartford CT´s Open Studios
Illustrated covers for the Hartford Advocate, New Haven Advocate, Valley Advocate, Fairfield County Weekly
Exhibited at the Leonardo Challenge, Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, CT
2001:
Illustrated covers for the Hartford Advocate, New Haven Advocate, Valley Advocate, Fairfield County Weekly, & the former Westchester County Weekly
Exhibited at the Leonardo Challenge, Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, CT
2000:
Displayed work at CBGB´s 313 Gallery, New York, NY
Assistant artist to Vladimir Shpitalnik in the creation of a mural/installation for the Meadows Music Theater.
Three-man exhibition at the Madison Art Cinema, CT
Exhibited at the Leonardo Challenge, Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, CT
1999:
Displayed work at Gallery 53, Meriden, CT
Exhibited at the Leonardo Challenge, Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, CT
1998:
Was one of six artists chosen to exhibit at the Birth Festivals, Middletown, CT
Displayed work at Gallery 53, Meriden, CT
1997:
Studied under the apprenticeship of Zeek Ziner, sculptor, whose work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Was one of six artists chosen to exhibit at the Birth Festivals, Middletown, CT
1995:
A Colorist for Weston Woods Public Performance Videocassette production of "Who´s in Rabbit´s House?" based on the book by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Loe and Diane Dillon (Dial), and narrated by James Earl Jones.
Education
1996-2000Graduated from Paier College of Art, Hamden, CT with a BFA Degree in Illustration