About the Artist

Joel Becktell is an artist in multiple media, including painting, printmaking, ceramics, and photography. Concurrently, Joel is an active concert cellist, playing in orchestras, small ensembles, and solo settings nationally and internationally.

At present, Joel is most active as a painter and printmaker. His eclectic style allows him to find expression for a wide range of visual and spiritual ideas.

Joel says about his art practice:

Some of my art depicts things that I find meaningful or beautiful, but more of it depicts something akin to my unconscious reactions -- both to things that I see, and less tangible things that occupy my thinking and feeling life. I have not been content to make art in an identifiable, slowly evolving style. I think this might come from the fact that most of my artistic training has been in the field of so-called "classical" music, which is a fantastically varied and vast body of work spanning centuries and most of the world's cultures. On any given day, I might be interpreting musical works in randomly varied styles, all of them masterpieces with seemingly nothing in common stylistically, which nevertheless combine for a satisfying artistic experience. There's also the time in my youth that I spent as a gallery guard at one of the world's great art museums, randomly assigned to different galleries from day to day, which exposed me to truly great artworks from many traditions and times. For whatever reason, my expression seeks a broad range of outlets and styles. I can't imagine any other way for me to want to engage in the making of music and art.

Joel has works in private collections throughout the US and overseas. Many examples of his work may be seen on this website.

Please contact Joel at 505.264.7353 (phone or text) to make an appointment for a studio visit to see available paintings and original hand-pulled prints.