My name is Joseph Cole, and I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I’m a welder, fabricator, sculptor and treat dealer to three dogs. I find creativity and meaning in shaping metal - whether for function, expression, or remembrance.

My journey began in 1984, when I enrolled in a 1,500-hour welding and pipefitting course in the Technical Education Center at the Community College of Denver. After earning my certification, I began working in a small, three-man welding and repair shop, where I learned the core of my trade and first discovered my interest in fabrication. It was there I realized I could piece together scraps of steel into recognizable forms - shapes pulled from imagination, memory, or instinct.

Eventually, I left that small shop to explore different areas of welding and expand my skills, but I never stopped creating with scrap steel. In 2023, after the passing of one of my dogs, I found myself crafting an urn - a deeply personal piece that led me down a new creative path using a newfound technique that produced more detail. That single sculpture sparked something powerful. I set a goal to complete ten pieces that year and ended up entering public art competitions in four different cities. I beat out several established artists, qualified in three of the four cities, and had my work publicly displayed for a full year in each location, where it was judged by the people.

To my surprise and honor, I achieved first place in two of those cities, and one of my sculptures was even purchased by the city itself. In just my first year as a competitor, I accomplished more than I ever expected - and it’s only encouraged me to keep going.

People often tell me I have a vision for art, but the truth is, I start with no plan, no sketch, and no vision. Just a thought. I don’t know what it’s going to become until I start working - and that mystery is part of what drives me.

Today, I still work in the welding field, and that little shop somehow, I always found my way back to that little shop. It's now one of the largest welding companies in the area. You can still find me there - back where it all started - continuing to create, wonder, and see what comes next from just a thought.