User:Joe Esposito (artist)

Joe Esposito (born October 24, 1953 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American painter mainly associated with Neo-expressionism. Esposito was inspired by the German Expressionist painters and Fauvism. He is an artist who is now living and working in eastern Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen, he left home and traveled extensively throughout the United States.

Esposito did not have formal art training. He chose to study independently. At a young age, Joe began to study Academic art. Esposito studied with Bucks County Originals artist David L Frame. The two artists worked together for years. Joe set out to build a solid foundation because he understood that without learning the basics, he would never find his own voice. He was strongly influenced by the work of Georges Rouault, Max Beckmann, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and most of the artists associated with German Expressionism. He was not interested in dealing with reality. Esposito has a deep need to express subjective emotions. His intentions are to bring his inner world to life through his art.

Esposito felt a need to move away from expressing dark emotions through rough subject matter. Fauvism profoundly influenced his work. He turned to the work done by Matisse, Kees van Dongen, Braque, Maurice de Vlaminck, Gabriele Münter and Albert Marquet. Their use of pure color helped him develop a palette that became unique to Joe. At the same time, Esposito began to simplify the shapes, forms and images in his paintings. His ability to work with color and simplified images led him into a style that truly expresses his own heart and soul.

Quotes
“Another world has always existed within me. It is a magical, mystical place where almost anything is possible. Children know this world well. Unfortunately, as we grow up, reality slams shut the gates to this sacred place. I have been blessed because this world remained alive in me and it grew into an incredible inner kingdom. Over time, I learned to bring this world to life with paint.”

“I want my work to shine a ray of light into this dark, desolate world. If I bring a sense of hope into the world with paint, I believe that I am doing something that is worthwhile with my life. I hope the light that I put into the world through my art will one day shine back on my own soul. This has something to do with personal redemption.”

“Life is about balance. This is also true in a work of art. A painting can be executed on the highest level but if it is out of balance, it will not hold up and eventually it will fall apart.”

Group Exhibitions

 * 1985 – Chamber of Commerce Gala Exhibition – Doylestown, PA
 * 1990 – Bargeron Gallery – Washington Crossing, PA
 * 1992 – The Mill Gallery - Manayunk, PA
 * 1993 – Medici Gallery – Philadelphia, PA

Solo Exhibitions

 * 1976 – Grand Canyon Arts Center – Grand Canyon, AZ
 * 1985 – Bucks County Originals Gallery – Doylestown, PA
 * 1986 – Radcliffe Art Gallery – Bristol, Pennsylvania
 * 1987 – Bristol Riverside Theater Gallery – Bristol, PA
 * 1988 – Bristol Riverside Theater Gallery – Bristol, PA
 * 1991 – Designers Corner Gallery – Manayunk, PA