Born in 1968 in San Francisco CA, the son of Basque immigrants from the South of France, Joël Urruty is an artist working in various materials, creating abstract sculptures and wall assemblages.
After graduating with a BS in Design from San Francisco State University, he apprenticed with Master craftsman, David Marks, before going on to earn an MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology with an emphasis in woodworking. Joëlʼs sculptures have been exhibited Internationally. His work can be found in the permanent collection of the Asheville Art Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Art and Honolulu Museum of Art. 

Joël is based in Hickory North Carolina. He is a father and husband and has been living in Hickory since 2007.