Medium: Wood. Clay Sculpture.

Joe is a Little Rock-based sculptor whose artistic journey began not in a studio, but in song. As a child, his passion was music—teaching himself to play guitar at age 12, writing songs, and performing with friends. It wasn’t until his 40s, following the tragic loss of his teenage daughter Jennifer, that he turned to visual art as a form of healing and self-expression. What began as a cathartic outlet soon evolved into a lifelong creative pursuit.

Joe quickly found clay to be his most fulfilling medium. Drawn to its tactile, forgiving nature, he appreciates how clay allows him to shape, reshape, and build with both freedom and intention. While he also enjoys watercolor and charcoal, sculpting provides a deeper connection - one that combines imagination with discipline, and emotion with craft.

His sculptures often begin with a spontaneous gesture—allowing his hands to guide the form—then evolve into fully realized figures, many with expressive and often whimsical faces. He draws inspiration from both imagination and real people, frequently photographing strangers whose features strike him. "For me, the face is the most expressive part of the human being," Joe says. "That’s where emotion lives."

Every piece involves not only artistry, but a thoughtful blend of engineering, anatomy, and design—even the bases he constructs for his sculptures are integral to the process and sometimes more complex than the figures themselves.

Joe’s work has found homes throughout Arkansas, Tennessee, the West Coast, and as far as Sweden. Though his path to art was unexpected, his sculptures now stand as heartfelt expressions of resilience, curiosity, and joy.

📸 Instagram: @joemartin.art
📘 Facebook: Joe Martin