Joey Marcella has been active in the stone and tile industry for over 34 years, with 27 years at the helm of Mario & Son. He is an award-winning marble sculptor and a self-taught artist, though his creative career started at age 10 as a musician.
He attended the University of Nevada on a full music scholarship before starting his stone business. In 1991, he co-founded Mario & Son with his father Mario, transforming a garage startup into a renowned stone fabrication shop in the Pacific Northwest.
His sculpting career began when his father-in-law, a museum board member, suggested he donate a piece to an art auction. He won the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Patron’s award in 2013 for his sculpture “Crevasse”.
“Don’t chase the money, chase your passion.”
In 2018, he was named Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year and received the Grande Pinnacle Award for his sculpture “Aura”. It was the first time a piece of art won this prestigious award. “Aura” took sixteen months to carve from Carrara marble.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the Stone Fabricators Alliance and the Spokane Valley Arts Council. He is a regular speaker at international trade shows and has lectured at several industry events.
His sculpture “Mantis” is carved from a single piece of Carrara marble, showcasing fluid style and delicate complexity. His works are held in private collections and have been featured in charity auctions.
He is currently working on “Soulmates,” a life-size sculpture carved from two raw blocks of marble. The project is estimated to take two years to complete. It will be displayed in Spokane Valley, Washington.
Q: What defines Joey Marcella’s sculptural style?
A: His ability to create fluid, delicate forms from unforgiving materials like marble, blending traditional hand-carving with modern technology. His work often explores themes of romance, emotion, and human connection, as seen in “Aura” and “Soulmates.”