Joseph Flores
“Jo Flo”

First and foremost, its the shoulders of others who have helped, taught, influenced, and invested in me that I stand on. While I've never considered myself an artist, I guess life has a way of happening. Thus my work is the convergence of funcionality and artistry. Every piece is created with an urgency, not just an urgency to produce, but an urgency to create value from a population that is often considered conventionally valueless. A driving force in my work is a chance at redemption and the perpetual opportunity for improvement and limitless creativity. My obsession with leatherwork has driven me to form what seems like infinite ideas, but finite time to produce them, furthering my appreciation for time and opportunity. All aspects of my works are handcrafted from scratch. The carvings are hand carved and hand tooled using a swivel knife, mallet, and specialized stamping tools. My work includes many different materials sourced from many different vendors, thus, contributing to the livelihoods of many. My ultimate hope regarding my work is contribution and progress in the form of hopefully creating something remarkable for world.