After practicing architecture for more than 25 years I have turned to a new medium.  I now create art with paint on panels, mixed medium works & sculpture using found and donated objects and digital art. The images are uncommon, yet suggest the familiar forms of nature. Although the paintings are varied in color and composition,  each image is part of a logical yet highly intuitive progression of work.

Each work begins as an adventure and its identity becomes as valid and important as the next,  with the medium playing a most important role in the discovery of solutions.  Originating in the subliminal, each work is a fresh encounter with the lush, unpredictable medium.  The alchemy of powdered metal

I also turn chairs into art by subverting their form and function, challenging the viewer’s assumptions about design, utility and comfort. I incorporate new synthetic materials; cables, tubes and strings, into the design of modern (and often iconic) chairs. My approach is at once respectful of the original piece, but also a bit outrageous. My background as an architect, furniture designer and sculptor contributes to my fascination with chairs.

My artistic vocabulary is devoid of obvious symbols and messages, I do not intend to tell a story or render a recognizable form. For me, the process of creating is a meditative exercise. Though the images are generated spontaneously, recurring themes of movement and form can be found. The paintings relate only to each other, each providing clues to interpret the next.  This is their power.  In contrast,  my three dimensional works will at times possess a sense of content or a relationship  to historical themes, though only in an abstract sense.

I work under various, self-imposed constraints, sometimes I limit my palette to black and white or to metallic pigments. This economy of means is not simply the principle of ‘less is more’, I relish restrictions as a challenge to more fully explore each image, to search for the maximum effect.

As I paint, I am preoccupied with the fluidity of the paint and the resulting density, and also the spacial concerns that are important in the creation of an illusion. I work with the reflective quality of the medium, creating many transparent layers which suggest great depths of space. I fashion complex layerings of many small areas of color in order to dissolve any central focus or subject matter.

SELECT COLLECTIONS
STEPHANIE & DANIEL RIGAUX, Rockville, Md. JOHN WENDT, Rockport, MA
E.J. SHIN, Bethesda, Md
JOHN & DIANA MORAN, Scottsdale,Az.
NINA SHAPIRO, Washington, DC
JAN MENNELL, Skillman, NJ
BEVERLY AHLIN, Maitland,Fl.
MARY ANNE REILLY, Bethesda, Md.
JOEL TOWNSEND, Washington, DC J
AMES MEYER, Bethesda, Md.
MERCEDES RIVERA de GOETZ, Washington, DC J.W. MAHONEY, Arlington,
TIDA CHAMBERS, Dallas, Texas
NESTOR & MINDY KASSARABA, Washington, DC SUSAN ENGLE, Gaithersburg, MD
JAMES F. DICKE II, New Bremen, Ohio DR.
TIM ELDER, Arlington, VA
MARC ROTHSCHILD, Washington, DC J
EREMY LIEW & RANEE LAN, San Francisco, CA ERIC BURNS, Washington, DC
PHILIPPE LANIER, Washington, DC
CORPORATE
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BARBADOS GREENSPUN,SHAPIRO,
DAVIS & LEARY, Fairfax, VA
NICHOLSON PRECISION INSTRUMENTS INC., Germantown, MD GILMOUR ACADEMY, Gates Mills ,Ohio
MEE DERBY & CO., Washington,DC
KOAN INC., Silver Spring, MD
HERMAN MILLER INC
INNERVISIONS, INC., Herndon, VA PREMIUM HOME FINANCING, Dallas,Texas WATERGATE GALLERY, Washington,DC MILLER & VAN EATON, Washington, DC RELMAN & ASSOCIATES, Washington, DC Sterne Keesler Goldstein Fox Attorneys
CLEARCUT TREASURE BOX
SAM GILLIAM, Washington, DC
Washington, DC
SHEILAH KAST, College Park, Md. RAY OTTENBERG, Washington, DC DAN RATHER, New York, New York

EXHIBITIONS

2014

BLIND WHINO, Washington DC, Washington Project for the Arts, ‘Cherry Blast, Group Exhibition, March 20 to April 20.
THE ANTHENAEAM, Alexandria, VA, Group Exhibition, ‘Louloudi, Flower/to Flower’, presented by Washington Sculptors Group and the Northern Virginia Fine Art Association, March 21 to May 4. SMITYH CENTER HEALING and the ARTS, Washington, DC, ‘Alchemical Vessels Exhibition, April 4 to May 16.SMITYH CENTER HEALING and the ARTS, Washington, DC, ‘Alchemical Vessels Exhibition, April 4 to May 16.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION for the ADVANCEMENT of SCIENCE, Washington, DC,  Group Show, curated by Sarah Tanguy,  June 16 to August 22.
POWERHOUSE (Georgetown), Washington, DC, ‘Design@+’,  July 2 to July 11.
KATZEN ARTS CENTER, Washington, DC, Washington Sculptors Group, Group Exhibition, ‘Sculpture NOW 2014’, Curated by Jack Rasmussen, Nov. 4 to December 14.
VISARTS, Rockville, MD, Group Show, December…

2013

KATZEN ARTS CENTER, American University Museum, Washington, DC, One Person Show, ‘Pull Up a Chair’, November 5 to December 15.
HONFLEUR GALLERY, Washington, DC, Group exhibition, Washington Sculptors Group ‘Sculpture NOW 2013’, Curated by Florcy Morisset, March 1 to April 12.
ARTISPHERE, Arlington, VA, My ‘Sculptura Blow Chair’ featured in the February 21-May 19 The Next Wave Exhibition: Industrial Design Innovation in the 21st Century: curated and produced by Douglas Burton Apartment Zero, Washington DC, USA. Partners: Surface Magazine, Embassy of Spain, Embassy of Italy, IDSA, Environmental Film Festival DC, www.apartmentzero.com

2012

CROSS MacKENZIE GALLERY, Washington, DC, Group show, ‘Macho’, December 1. EDISON PLACE GALLERY – Washington Sculptors Group, Washington, DC,
Group Exhibition, ‘Sculpture NOW 2009’, Curated by Sarah Newman, June 13 to July 14. HILLYER ART SPACE, Washington, DC, IA&A June Retrospective, May 29 to June 29. SOTHEBY’S, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, March 3 to April 14.

2011

ARTERY PLAZA GALLERY, Bethesda, MD, Washington Sculptor Group, ‘Sculpture NOW 2011’, Group Exhibition, November 9 to Dec. 16.
McLEAN PROJECT for the ARTS, McLean, VA, Group Exhibition curated by Jayme McLellen, ‘Strictly Painting’, June 16 to July 30.
ZENITH GALLERY, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition, Zenith Gallery’s 33rd Anniversary, ‘ZARTiculation’, April 2 to July 3.
BLACKROCK CENTER for the ARTS, GERMANTOWN, MD, 3 PERSON EXHIBITION, JUNE 2011 Showing Chair Sculptures.
HILLYER ARTS SPACE, Washington, DC, Group exhibition, ‘Process: Reaffirmation’ curated by Gina Marie Lewis, April 1 to April 29.
ARTS IN EMBASSY PROGRAM, Group Exhibition in US Ambassador’s home, Copenhagen, Denmark ZENITH GALLERY, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW @ 1111 Pennsylvania Ave NW, ‘Joel D’Orazio : Listen to Me’, Febrruary 7 to May 13.

2010

INDUSTRY GALLERY, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition with Campana Bros., Mark Newson, Nacho Carbonell, Peter Traag….., ‘Getting to Now – Pathways to 21st Century Design’, July 10 to August 21.
McLEAN PROJECT for the ARTS, McLean, VA, Group Exhibition, ‘Fantastic Journeys’, curated by Beatrice Gralton, June 17 to July 31.
GRACE – Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston, VA, Group Exhibition, IPAR & WSG ‘gaps’ Curated by Vesela Sretenovic, June 25 to August 14
GALERIE INGRID COOPER, North Bethesda,MD Febuary 19.
THE RATNER MUSEUM, Bethesda, MD, THREE PERSON EXHIBITION, April 1 to April 27

2009

WASHINGTON SQUARE – Washington Sculptors Group, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition, ‘Sculpture NOW 2009’, Curated by Victoria Reis, February 2 to May 1 FIRST PRIZE: Tom Rooney Award for Excellance 2009 JOEL D’ORAZIOfor the ‘Herman Miller Dread Chair’. WORKHOUSE ART CENTER – Washington Sculptors Group, Lorton, VA, Group Exhibition, ‘REFORM’, May 13 to June 27
ZENITH GALLERY, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW @ 1111 Pennsylvania Ave NW, ‘Joel D’Orazio : Listen to Me’, Febrruary 7 to May 13.
AMBIENTE, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition MULEH, Washington, DC, One Person
GLEN ECHO SPANISH BALLROOM, Glen Echo, MD, Group exhibition, ‘Labor day Art Show’, September 5 to Sept. 7.
ART MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS – OAS, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition – Washington Sculptors Group, ‘Bilateral Engagement’ Curated by Laura Roulet , October 15 to January 15, 2010

2008

WASHINGTON SQUARE – Washington Sculptors Group, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition, ‘Sculpture NOW 2008’ Curated by David Furchgott, February 4 to May 2
CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART, Washington, DC, ‘Art Anonymous’ auction, May 10

2007

PHOTOSANDART.COM, DESIGN CONCEPTS UNLIMITED, ‘Abstracts 2007’, ‘BEST OF SHOW’, Joel D’Orazio, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31
WASHINGTON SQUARE – WASHINGTON SCULPTORS GROUP, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition, ‘Sculpture NOW 2007’ Curated by Ramon Osuna, February 3 to May 5
WWP GALLERY, WASHINGTON, DC, 9×10 WPA/C Group Exhibition, March 5 to April 10. McLEAN PROJECT for the ARTS. McLean, VA, ‘Strictly Painting – Colorfield Re-visited’ curated by Kristen Hileman , Group Exhibition, June 21 to July 28

2004

HEERY INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS, Washington, DC, One Person Exhibition thru 2005
MULEH, Washington, DC, One person exhibition, Jan. to June
PASS GALLERY, Washington, DC, group exhibition, Nov. 20 to Dec.14
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARTS & HUMANITIES COUNCIL, Group Exhibition, September and October
ART-O-MATIC, Washington, DC, Group Show, Nov. 12 to Dec.5

2003

ARTS IN EMBASSY PROGRAM, Group Exhibition, Nicosia, Cyprus Mid 2003 to 2005 AMBIENTE, Washington, DC, Group Exhibition MULEH, Washington, DC, One Person Exhibition, August to Jan. 29, 2004 A RITZ CARLTON, Washington, DC, Group exhibition, Sept. to June
2004

2002

HEERY INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS, Washington, DC, One Person Exhibition, Ongoing

2001

SAVE THE BAY EXHIBITION, Art Auction, Washington, DC, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ART PROGRAM GALLERY, ‘From Maryland to Bucharest and Back’, Adelphi, MD, July 5 to Sept. 28

2000

THE HOWARD COUNTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ELLICOT CITY, MD., GROUP SHOW, ‘2000 Views’, 14 January to 25 February
DUNCAN & MILLER GALLERY, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, ‘Space/Place’, 1 April to 29 April.
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, NYC, GROUP SHOW, ‘Art From Detritus’, April 2000
THE RALLS COLLECTION, Wa GROUP SHOW, July to 27 October,
WATERGATE GALLERY, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, Attractions 2000, 27 Oct. to 1 Dec.

1998

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, Washington, DC, Sculpture Exhibit, April 19 to May 3 ARTISTS MUSEUM, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, ‘Critical Discoveries’, An exhibition of emerging art curated by Ken Oda,14 July to 15 August
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS Washington, DC ONE MAN SHOW, Archives and Library, ‘Quattro’, September & October

1997

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, Washington, DC. ONE MAN SHOW, in Archives and Library, ‘Ulterior Objects’, 2 May to 30 June.
AMERICAN CENTER FOR PHYSICS, College Park, MD., GROUP SHOW curated by Sarah Tanguy, September 22 to March 22 1998

1996

BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART, Youngstown, Ohio, TWO PERSON SHOW, JOEL & JON D’ORAZIO, ‘AbstractVisions’ & ‘Mirror paintings’, 11 Feb. to 31 March
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, Washington, DC, DOUBLE SOLO SHOW, with Richard Dana, 4 June to 19 July
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, in Archives & Library, ‘Paint & Structure’, September & October.

1995

ARLINGTON ART CENTER, Arlington, Va., Annual Juried Exhibition, Juror: David Ross, Director of the Whitney Museum of Art, NYC, Jan. 1995 to 7 March 1995
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW in Archives & Library, ‘Abstract Visions’, Aug. thru Oct.
1995
SALVE REGINA GALLERY, Catholic University Art Dept., ‘New Works on Old Objects’ Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW October 1995
ROCKVILLE ARTS PLACE, Rockville, Md., ONE MAN SHOW, ‘Mixed Means of Expression’, 30 Nov. 1995 to 5 Jan.1996
GALLERY OKUDA INTERNATIONAL, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, ‘Higher Ground’ curated by Mary Ann Reilly, Uplifting works by eight artists, December 1995 thru January 1996

1994

ARNOLD and PORTER,Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, Jan. 1994.
METROPOL GALLERY, Baltimore, Md., GROUP SHOW, Jan.-March 1994
FOUNDRY GALLERY, Washington, DC, JURIED GROUP SHOW, Dec. 1994
CLARK & CO. (M.O.C.A.) GALLERY, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, ‘Most Promising New Talent Art Newsletter subscribers, Oct. 1994

1993

MARY ANNE REILLY GALLERY, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, Jan. 1993. HABITAT, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, DEC.1992- FEB. 1993
FOUNDRY GALLERY, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, Dec. 1992, juried by Samuel Hoi, Dean of the Corcoran School of Art.
PALMER’S GALLERY 500, Hot Springs National park, Ark, 1993-1997.
THE COLLECTOR ART GALLERY, Washington, DC, GROUP SHOW, July 1993

1992

HENRI GALLERY, Washington, DC, GROUP EXHIBIT, June 1992 HABITAT, Washington, DC, ONE MAN SHOW, Paintings & Furniture, July 1992thru October. SANSARGALLERY, WashingtonDC, GROUP SHOW, Furniture Exhibit, 1992