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.
Statement:
I’m a contemporary sculptor working with concrete, stone, and paint, creating monumental forms from everyday materials. My work is driven by a fascination with process, the immediacy of cast concrete, and a desire to disrupt geometric forms with organic, flowing lines. The cracks that run through my pieces are both decorative and symbolic, representing fragility.
Inspired by nature, particularly geology, I draw from its variety, stratification, and beauty. My work reflects both the grand scale of canyons and riverbeds and the intimate details of dried mud and aggregate. Through my sculptures, I aim to preserve memories of nature as they face erosion, climate change, and human progress.
My pieces comment on the fragility of the environment and the consequences of constant development. In ever-changing urban landscapes, gentrification and transformation reshape communities. I use cracked, monolithic forms to convey the tension between stability and change, highlighting the beauty of imperfection and encouraging reflection on our evolving world.
By focusing on these imperfections, I hope to provoke thought about the integrity of both the structure before the viewer and the society that prioritizes innovation at the cost of sustainability.