Born in Pittsburgh PA in the heart of the city, Joe started making art at an early age. By age seven he had cast his first bronze at Carnegie Mellon University, with the help of his art teacher mother Teresa.

Training includes: BFA from The New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University, a masters degree from Dominican University in Arts and Humanities, seven years of technical training and bronze arts making at various art casting foundries plus, 26 years of teaching art full time at various arts magnet schools and art camps. Joe has shown in major galleries, sold work internationally, and does commissions from time to time when not working on his own body of work.