Mapping Collage

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Joe has always had a creative heart. Whether it be collecting items on a walk or making the most of a broken chachki, his inherent nature to scavenge draws him to experiment with found materials and textures in his art and design work. Most recently, Joe has found a stride working with wooden reeds to create mixed media art. Through the use of line, shape and direction, he is able to manipulate the materials to create depth and dimension on a flat surface. After much experimentation, Joe discovered that a change in the direction of the reeds on a canvas would cause them to interact with light in interesting ways, giving them an almost life-like quality. A proponent of eco-consciousness, this ‘life’ Joe saw in his work felt like a poignant way to utilize a material harvested from once-living organisms and, in a way, return them to their original form. Much of his aesthetic is inspired by nature and the various textures, shapes, and dimension found therein. Some common motifs abstracted in his work are landscapes, maps and pathways. Often punctuated with one additional material, Joe’s primarily monochromatic work is intended to encourage the viewer to think about materials, the environment, and the interaction between man-made and natural elements. Art and design has always meant more to him than things you hang on your wall or adorn your living spaces with. Art and design are opportunities to change the views and attitudes of those who come into contact with your work and perhaps cause them to reshape the way they interact with their surroundings. Joe earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Design and Technology from Northern Kentucky University in 2012. After spending some time in Cincinnati following his undergraduate studies, Joe returned to Cleveland and received a Masters Degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development, as well as a Historic Preservation Certification, from Cleveland State University in 2016. Joe currently resides in the Asiatown neighborhood of Cleveland.