Artist Bio - Joe A. Avarista

Joe A. Avarista studied photography at the Art Institute of Boston. He subsequently served a nine year apprenticeship with a master wood sculptor. A life-long fascination with clothing led him to design and execute a series of sculptures of jackets, ballet slippers, and chef outfits. These pieces are then painted by the sculptor to take on a super realistic appearance.

Avarista has exhibited in galleries from New York to California and his wooden sculptures of clothing can be found in private collections around the world. Now, for the first time, one of his signature carved ‘leather’ jackets is being shown by a gallery in his native Rhode Island.