Joseph Gille

I am deeply grateful for the mentors and people in my life who were willing to risk something of themselves for causes larger than themselves—and, especially, for the sake of others. I strive to carry that example forward.

In my work, I seek to look beyond outward appearance and toward the authentic, internal content of character. We are all constantly becoming—discovering new horizons, confronting what we do not yet know about ourselves, and carrying within us far more than others can see. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry famously wrote, “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

I am a retired United States Air Force enlisted aircrew member, having served for twenty years across two airframes, with countless hours spent in the air and on alert. Throughout those years, I was honored to serve and never lost my appreciation for the extraordinary privilege of having an office in the clouds.

My foundation in the fine arts began at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Suitland High School in Forestville, Maryland. I remain profoundly grateful to be an alumnus of that program and to the artists who chose to become teachers and pass their knowledge on to the next generation.

To all of them, thank you—especially Mr. Fear and Ms. Hong. Their influence remains a part of the artist, and the person, I continue to become.