Joe Sultan

Baal, abstract geometric wooden sculpture

2023

Joe Sultan started sculpting later in life after building a home in the Hudson Valley in 2012. He trained, worked as an architect and led his own firms for over 20 years starting in 1980, his focus was special needs housing and other government sponsored commissions. A second career started in 2001 as owner and CEO of Chilewich, the design brand best known for beautiful and functional home textiles. He built their factory in Georgia where all the products are made, with machines and processes of his design. He stepped down as CEO in May of 2022. During all phases of his career Joe made art, first engraving and drawing before turning to sculpture. But it was at the Hudson Valley house that he turned exclusively to sculpture using the abundant wood of his land. He mills the wood into sticks, planks and blocks. The milling leaves ridges, valleys and cambers making every raw piece, unique. Sculptures start by putting 2 random sticks together, there’s no plan to start with, or drawings. But there’s always an idea about form, space or memory that guides them. The idea solidifies as the piece grows and eventually supersedes initial randomness. All the work contain the markings of its making. Joe’s work was first shown at Susan Eley Fine Art (SEFA) in Hudson in August 2021.