Joel Urruty

Joël Urruty is an artist creating abstract figurative sculptures.  His studio is in Hickory, NC where he works carving and creating unique one of a kind sculptures in both wood and bronze.  His work has been shown in Japan as well as various galleries and museums throughout the Unites States.  His work has also been widely published in magazines and books.  He was born in San Francisco, CA, the son of Basque immigrants.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology at San Francisco State University.  He apprenticed as a furniture maker under David J. Marks, Master Craftsman, and later went on to earn a Masters of Fine Art in Woodworking and furniture design from School of American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology.  In 2004 Urruty was an artist in the Center's Windgate ITE residency program.