Fractured Earth
by Joshua Urso
Nature, and specifically the strata of geology, inspires my work. I’m attempting to capture and convey the beauty of rock and soil through the use of concrete, stone, and pigment. My inspiration comes not only from the macro of canyons and riverbeds but also the micro of dried mud and aggregate. I hope to preserve my personal memory of encounters with these elements, even as erosion, climate change, and other manmade and natural forces erase them.
I have also had a love of materials since college and a desire to explore purely sculptural forms. These concrete pieces represent a fascination with process and the immediacy of cast concrete, but also a wanting to create monumental forms out of commonplace materials.
Fractured Earth - Double. 2022. 4" x 15" x 10". Shattered and reassembled concrete with acrylic paint.
Totem - Black. 2022. 6" x 12" x 17". Cast concrete infused with sumi ink.
In addition to the natural world, I draw inspiration and techniques from both the art world and the more humble building trades—fabricating precise molds, blending concrete and aggregate mixtures to effect surface texture and weight, sculpting the work with the powerful blows of a hammer and chisel, and finishing the pieces with pigments to highlight elements of the design. I have always enjoyed bisecting the geometric form with the fluidity of line. This can be seen through cracked concrete and stone as well as through chisel.
Foundation - Green. 2022. 3" x 8" x 16". Shattered and reassembled concrete with acrylic paint.
Fractured Ground - Yellow. 2022. 7" x 9" x 5". Shattered and reassembled concrete with acrylic paint.
Fractured Ground - Blue. 2022. 3.25" x 11.5" x 4". Shattered and reassembled concrete with acrylic paint.
Josh Urso (@joshursodesign) is a contemporary sculptor in Jersey City, NJ, working in concrete, stone, and various pigments. He studied engineering and product design at Carnegie Mellon University and owned and operated Josh Urso Design, a furniture and lighting design business, for over 20 years 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. Available for commissions, Josh’s sculptures can be scaled up with site-specific dimensions in mind, and are suitable for indoor as well as outdoor installations such as sculpture gardens, landscape elements, and public spaces.
