Joe Norman
Joe graduated with a degree in Product Design from Stanford and worked with design
consulting firms for a number of years before teaching middle school (and a short, but exciting stint
customizing vintage motorcycles). For the past fifteen years he has been a full-time sculptor,
focusing on handmade and site-specific works informed by the intersection of the natural and
human-made environment.
He is currently represented by multiple galleries in the continental United States, is an
elected Associate member of the National Sculptors’ Guild, served on the Board of Directors for the
Artworks Center for Contemporary Art, and was the Artist-in-Residence at several National Parks.
His work is in permanent public and private collections across North America.
During his projects he coordinates with structural engineers, fabricators, city works
departments, and community stakeholders to develop safe, maintainable, visually cohesive, and
contextually resonant artwork while remaining within the budget and on time.
Joe spends his free time ice climbing, riding bicycles, and fly-fishing with his wife and 14-
year-old daughter. He currently maintains his studio in Loveland, Colorado.
Joe says, "I enjoy honest welds and exposed bolts, the joy of struggle and walnut oil on smooth sanded wood. My best work has regret and relief and sometimes I throw wrenches."
"Over the past several years, I have been interested in creating public sculptures that show different images or words depending on the viewpoint of the observer. I believe that having multiple ideas coexist in a single piece is a useful metaphor for the ecosystem of ideas that public art empowers and protects."
"I focus on concepts that I previously thought were mutually exclusive, yet in fact may not be. In the past I’ve combined the words ‘Story/Truth’, ‘Fear/Love’, and images of people and migratory animals into single sculptures."
"My intent is to make art that contributes to a wider conversation about justice and care and our impact on the world. I hope it helps people think and be happy; I hope it helps people be important to each other."
