Joel Urruty is an artist creating abstract figurative sculptures. His studio is in Hickory, NC, where he works carving and creating unique, one-of-a-kind sculptures in both wood and bronze. His work has been shown in Japan as well as various galleries and museums throughout the United States, and has been widely published in books and magazines. Urruty was born in San Francisco, CA in 1968, the son of Basque immigrants. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology at San Francisco State University. He apprenticed as a furniture maker under David J. Marks, Master Craftsman, and later went on to earn a Masters of Fine Art in Woodworking and Furniture Design from School of American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology.