Joe Ciardiello was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. He attended the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan and then Parsons and The New School, earning a BFA degree. A freelance illustrator since 1974, Joe has worked for most major magazines and newspapers as well as for corporate and advertising clients, book publishers, and record companies.
Over Ciardiello’s career, clients have included American Express, Audubon, Barnes & Noble, Capitol Records, The Nation, The New Yorker, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone, and Time. In addition, Joe has created many portraits for the New York Times Book Review. In 2007 he worked with Elmore Leonard on an illustrated edition of Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing for Harper Collins.
Ciardiello’s awards include four Society of Illustrators silver medals and the prestigious Hamilton King Award. His work has been included in numerous group shows at museums, universities, and galleries throughout the country. In 1999 Ciardiello had a solo exhibition of his work at the Society of Illustrators in New York and is included in their permanent collection. In 2017 an exhibit of his work was held at the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton.
Ciardiello’s book A Fistful of Drawings was published by Fantagraphics in 2019. He has also played the drums in blues and jazz groups.
He has lived in Hunterdon County for the past 20 years.
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