Meet Joseph Iorio!

Joseph Iorio was born in Teaneck, NJ in 1976 and currently resides and works as a painter in Fair Haven, NJ. He holds a BA in English Literature from Lafayette College, which he obtained in 1998, and an MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, which he received in 2003. Iorio has exhibited his work in various venues, including the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY, and the Grossman Gallery on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton, PA. He was also a Joan Mitchell MFA grant nominee in 2003.

Iorio has been working as an ironworker in New York City for more than two decades, and this experience has deeply influenced his art. He has a profound appreciation for the raw power and beauty of steel and other industrial materials, which is evident in his paintings. His work features bold lines, heavy textures, and a strong sense of structure that reflects his background as an ironworker.

At the same time, Iorio’s work is deeply rooted in the abstract expressionist tradition. He approaches each painting as a spontaneous and intuitive act, allowing his emotions and instincts as well as his dialogue with the painting to guide the process. His paintings are a reflection of his personal experiences as an artist and an ironworker, resulting in a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.

For Iorio, his paintings are more than just aesthetic beauty. They speak to the complex relationship between art and industry in contemporary society. Whether hanging in a gallery or adorning the walls of a steel mill, Iorio’s work is a testament to the power of creativity and human ingenuity. Each painting represents a unique journey and a personal narrative, reflecting Iorio's life experiences as an artist and an ironworker.