Joe Urankar

Joe is someone whose life has straddled different worlds.  On one end, he was born to a catholic family in an idyllic New Jersey suburb; he rode horses and sailed, went to a boarding school, and studied architecture.  It might sound lovely, yet from the earliest of ages, he knew he didn’t fit in.  On the other end, he’s a creature of the underground, an installation artist whose work protects authenticity and joy, a gay man, and a non-believer in monogamy.

Unpacking his nature vs nurture?  Joe describes it as an ongoing and occasionally heartbreaking journey of self-discovery.  Without role models or access to mentors who knew how to support him, he worked through isolation and vulnerability in order to explore the parts of himself that didn’t fit in.  From Park City, Joe now travels to experience different cultural norms, dedicating his time to understanding how to build a more inclusive community.