Artist Statement
Joe Zoeller
“The greatest scientists are always artists as well.” – Albert Einstein
Joe Zoeller was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, NY. He received degrees from Hofstra University (BS Chemistry), Purdue University (MS Chemistry), and Virginia Tech (Ph.D. Chemistry) and was widely recognized for his work in chemistry. Although Joe’s formal education was in Chemistry, he started his career with a photographic company, so his technical training and practice exposed him to an in depth understanding of paints, inks, pigments, and color perception as well as scientific drawing. This coincided well with his lifelong interest in art and provided a firm foundation for his subsequent painting career.
Joe began painting at Hofstra University where he took instruction under Paul England who charted his painting direction with a few words. After reviewing his work (in oil), inquiring about what he really wanted from his art, and asking which artists he admired most, Paul England responded with one simple sentence. “You really should consider acrylics.” Acrylics have been Joe’s medium of choice ever since.
If pressed to categorize Joe’s work, it might be classified as “Modern Realism.” However, like most contemporary art, his “style” is not a single “style”, nor does it conform to a “movement” but is instead an amalgam of styles using modern materials. Borrowing elements from Precisionism, Post-Impressionism, Modern Realism, and Pop Art, as well as older forms from around the world, his work assumes a unique style. One unique feature of many of his works is the strategic incorporation of ink to enhance edges, depth and contrast to produce paintings with markedly enhanced vibrancy and depth.
Joe has received several awards for his work in recent years including an Award of Excellence Appalachian Art Show (2023), Award of Excellence Fun Fest Art Show (2017), Honorable Mention Kingsport Art Guild Members Show (2017), Virginia Highlands Award of Merit (for 2 pieces, 2018), and Second Place Kingsport Art Guild Members Show (2020.) He has recently been the featured artist at Woolworth Walk (Asheville, NC, March, 2021), Impressions Fine Art (Kingsport, TN, February-March, 2022), Circle Art Gallery (Kingsport City Hall, September-October 2022) and held a joint show “Different Visions” with Lee Stone at the Renaissance Center in Kingsport (March 2020.)
Joe currently resides in Kingsport, TN with his wife, Elaine, and serves as Chair of Kingsport’s Cultural Arts Commission, Vice-President of Impressions Fine Art, and on the board of the Kingsport Art Guild.