Idea Series #3

Joe Scalea

High-energy, positive art inspired by science and medicine. Original paintings on canvas and board. Oil pastel, acrylic, and mixed-media work.

Because art makes life just a little better.

I am an artist living in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2007, I graduated from medical school and am a practicing kidney, pancreas and liver transplant surgeon.

For me, painting is a welcome distraction from the intensity of surgery and the enormity of managing life and death.

I grew up in Virginia, but education and training took me to Maryland, Boston, and Wisconsin. Early on, I was very drawn to aerospace engineering before becoming interested in medicine and surgery. My interest in flight and engineering is as relevant in my art as it is in my professional research efforts. I like to think of myself as a passionate doctor, surgeon, and scientist. I’ve been fortunate to found two biotech companies with hopes to change the landscape of transplantation through improvements in communication, IT, AI, and the use of unmanned aircraft (i.e. drones). My job as a surgeon scientist has enabled me to publish more than 60 peer reviewed articles as well as work in the Atlantic and Reader’s Digest. I was recently recognized by The New York Times, CNN, NPR, TechCrunch, and the Today show for being the first person to transplant a human organ shipped by drone. That was a pretty awesome event.

I share this background so you can better understand my context and inspiration for my paintings.

I live in an old farmhouse with two children and my amazing wife, Meghan.