Title: 1) Founder and Executive Director; 2) Professor
Company: 1) Western North Carolina Sculpture Center; 2) Appalachian State University
Location: Lenoir, North Carolina, United States
Joseph W. Bigley III, founder and executive director at Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and professor at Appalachian State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in sculpting.
With 15 years of experience to his credit, Mr. Bigley has excelled as founder and executive director at the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center. He has taken on multiple roles such as overseeing daily operations, procuring materials and equipment, maintaining the website and social media pages, writing grants, promoting and planning events, and coordinating the artist in residence program and internship program for young artists. He also serves as a professor at Appalachian State University. He began his career as a teacher at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Before embarking on his professional path, Mr. Bigley pursued an education at Alfred University where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in sculptural dimensional studies in 2008. In addition to his primary vocation, Mr. Bigley remains affiliated with various organizations in relation to his areas of expertise. He was a member of the Mid-South Atlantic Sculptures Alliance and the Caldwell Arts council.
In light of his impressive undertakings, Mr. Bigley has accrued several accolades throughout his career. He was the recipient of an artist support grant through the Caldwell Arts Council in 2020 and the Durham County Arts Commission in 2010. In 2008, he was nominated for Outstanding Student Achievement by the International Sculpture Center. In 2011, he achieved a remarkable feat by undertaking a long-term public performance project cycling the length and shape of the Afghanistan border within the United States, covering approximately 3,700 miles to capture the public’s perception of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war in Afghanistan.
In the immediate future, Mr. Bigley intends to enhance the regional and national reputation of the organization and foster a community of artists and creatives while simultaneously engaging with the community beyond the Sculpture Center. The organization is already contributing to the beautification of downtown, and he aims to continue this work. He also aspires to showcase his personal student work in more prominent venues.
For more information, please visit:
Western North Carolina Sculpture Center
Personal Website
Contact Mr. Bigley:
