Artist Statement

I’m a contemporary sculptor working in concrete and stone embellished with paint and various pigments.  My sculpture is informed by a fascination with process, the immediacy of cast concrete, and a desire to create monumental forms out of commonplace materials.  My deliberate disruption of geometric figures with organic lines emerges from an urge to explore and subvert sculptural forms and viewer expectations.  The cracks that suffuse my work are both ornamental and symbolic.

My work is heavily influenced by the natural world and the inherent qualities of the materials I use.  I draw particular inspiration from geology, its stratification, variety, and beauty.  My work evokes not only the macro of canyons and riverbeds but also the micro of dried mud and aggregate.  Through my work, I hope to preserve my personal memory of encounters with nature, even as erosion, climate change, and our obsession with innovation efface them.

My pieces offer a commentary on the fragility of our environment and the consequences—both ecological and psychological—of constant development.  In the ever-changing urban and suburban landscape, constant renewal and transformation reshape neighborhoods through gentrification and development.  I hope to communicate this urban flux, capturing both the uncertainty and regeneration of our surroundings.  Through monolithic yet cracked forms, I explore the tension between stability and transformation, celebrating the raw beauty of the imperfect while encouraging reflection on our journey through an evolving world.

With a focus on imperfections, I hope to put the viewer on edge by asking them to consider the integrity of the structure before them even as they contemplate the viability of a society that produces ruin in the pursuit of novelty.

Biography

Josh Urso, a contemporary sculptor based in Jersey City, NJ, specializes in working with concrete, stone, and various pigments.  Before delving into sculpture, he studied engineering and product design at Carnegie Mellon University.  After graduation he owned and operated Josh Urso Design, a furniture and lighting design business for over two decades before pursuing sculpture full time.  His background in producing functional objects and his familiarity with manufacturing processes instilled in him a love of materials and a drive to explore purely sculptural forms.  His work is inspired by the natural world, the urban environment, the inherent qualities of materials, and his desire to create monumental forms.  As seen in all his pieces, he has been fascinated with breaking the geometric form with the fluid line and exploring the complex notion of beauty.

Josh’s sculptures are versatile and suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations such as sculpture gardens, landscapes, and public spaces.  Each piece can be customized to fit specific site dimensions, making them ideal for commissioned projects.