Joel Sullivan
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Booth I-37
MINI BIO
Joel Sullivan is a full-time artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, working primarily with metal to create bold and unconventional sculptures. His artistic journey began in childhood, inspired by his mother’s drawings and a deep connection to storytelling—a value rooted in his Aboriginal heritage. Fascinated by comics, he taught himself to draw and later became self-taught in many other mediums and disciplines, continually exploring new ways to express his creativity. After completing an Aboriginal welding course, Joel discovered the tactile satisfaction of working with metal, a material that resonates with him and continues to spark his imagination. He founded Iron Designs to bring his vision to life, creating anatomical sculptures, robots, animals, abstract forms, and functional wall art. “The message is a vehicle that art can ride on,” Joel says. “The metal doesn’t need that message; it speaks for itself.” Over the past 15 years, Joel’s work has been featured in prominent exhibitions across North America, including Red Dot Art Basel Miami, Art Expo New York, the Artist Project Toronto, and the One of a Kind Show Toronto. Each exhibition has provided an opportunity to share his work with people who connect with its raw energy and honest craftsmanship. Living and working in Nova Scotia, Joel finds inspiration in the natural world around him and in the act of making itself. For him, the process of shaping and creating is as meaningful as the final piece.