Joel Horne: Artist Bio

Joel Horne is a visionary artist who utilizes multiple forms of media, technology and performance as tools to convey, evoke and transform wonder about ourselves and our world. His life's mission is to embrace exploration, curiosity, and the pursuit of fearless self-evolution. This parallels his artistic mission, for he sees the act of living as the momma art project which, if valued as such, will naturally inspire all expressive acts and creative pursuits. This has guided him as an avid learner, adventurer and creator.

His work in photography, video and image art have led him to continually seek out and be open to emotive visions, colors and textures both around the world and in small unexpected places often overlooked. Joel began displaying and selling his images at galleries and shops in 2004 in his home town of Chapel Hill and Durham, NC. Soon after, he moved to Ashveille, NC, and quickly began utilizing his passion for video art by performing as a visualist for clubs, music events and festivals. In this line of work he mixes and composes video imagery in real time to accompany musical artists.

Joel began school at UNCA in which he pursued and earned an interdisciplinary degree that combined sculpture, multimedia, and mechatronic engineering, (which is similar to robotics). His work as a visualist began to incorporate experimental video feedback and live performance that utilized light, imagery, body, and dance. His work began to move off of the flat screen via experimental multimedia environments and interactive sculptural installations. For example, one of his earlier installations utilized living moths and collages of spinning mirrors and blowing leaves with projected imagery shining into and reflecting around the environment. His first multimedia/ mechatronics project was realized at a multimedia art event in 2007 at UNCA, in which he built a spinning multi-projector system that emitted stroboscopic video imagery, and live video feedback around a circular, fabric room.

His work and knowledge continued to evolve with his exploration to express more and more. He began collaborating with dancers to create interactive performance environments, also he performed several solo performance pieces in which he utilized experimental multimedia techniques, and created mechatronic interactive systems to open new avenues of self expression. His work integrating mechatronics into his expressive projects have brought him to present his projects at multiple academic conferences, and have earned him publications in pear reviewed research journals.