ARTIST'S BIO

Joy DeNicola received a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and graduated summa cum laude. Her studies emphasized painting, drawing, fiber arts and textiles, design and art history.

After working as a studio artist for a number of years, Joy became deeply aware of the transformative nature of art-making and its ability to foster self-awareness, personal growth, unconscious information and inner healing. The connection between creativity and psychology or creativity and the subconscious were riveting for her. Discovering that the creative process arise from unconscious reservoirs of the mind and brain became a life changing realization that she was unable to ignore. Confirmed by further investigation, Joy learned that functional imaging studies indicate that these reservoirs reside in association cortices, and that during the creative process, the brain works as a self-organising system. Although these ideas were not new, they were not part of Joy's university education in fine arts. This led her to further her education earning a Master's Degree of Science Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling Psychology from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she also graduated summa cum laude.

Following graduation from her Master's program, Joy worked in the fields of mental health and hospice as an art therapist and mental health counselor for more than 20 years assisting countless clients in gaining self awareness, insight, and recovery from trauma and multiple other emotional and psychological injuries as well as those facing terminal illness and loss. Using artistic expression as well and traditional therapy modalities, she aided clients in their journeys of healing, recovery and personal growth, reconciliation and acceptance.

During her career, Joy was part of the graduate faculty of clinical art therapy at Mount Mary University. She also lectured and conducted workshops at other educational institutions including the University of Wisconsin at both the Milwaukee and Madison campuses. She has led national workshops and retreats, provided in-service trainings on art therapy, and maintained a private practice as a clinical art therapist. She now maintains a fine arts studio where she works full-time creating original artworks.

Joy's artwork has been shown in fine art galleries regionally and nationally. She has been commissioned for numerous corporate installations, which include General Electric Company-Pewaukee, WI, St. Joseph Hospital-Milwaukee, WI, St. Francis Hospital-Milwaukee, WI, Villa St. Francis Assisted Living Facility-Milwaukee, WI, The Joseph Schlitz Corporate Center-Milwaukee, WI, First Star Bank Corporate Office-Milwaukee, WI, and the Encaustic Art Institute Museum's permanent collection. Joy has also been commissioned for numerous private installations throughout the country.