ABOUT JOSEPH GRICE
Joseph Grice is an artist and illustrator based in Jamestown, New York, whose work explores the intersection of human experience and the natural world through the imagery of birds. Working primarily in oil paint, Grice creates narrative-driven paintings that use avian subjects as metaphors for emotion, relationships, identity, and the shared experiences that connect us. His work celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature while inviting viewers to recognize aspects of themselves reflected in the wildlife around them.
Raised in a creative family, Grice developed a passion for art at an early age. Influenced by the storytelling of Arnold Lobel and Shel Silverstein, as well as the scientific bird studies of Jamestown native Roger Tory Peterson, he cultivated an artistic practice that balances observation, imagination, and narrative. Time spent exploring the outdoors fostered a lifelong appreciation for wildlife, which continues to inform his work today.
Grice earned an Associate of Science degree from Jamestown Community College in 2007 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Fredonia in 2010. While formally trained in fine art, his background in illustration remains a defining influence, resulting in paintings that combine strong visual storytelling with careful observation of the natural world.
In 2022, Grice completed an artist residency at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, where he studied Peterson's original works spanning more than six decades. The experience culminated in a solo exhibition at the institute in 2023 and deepened his exploration of the relationship between traditional ornithological illustration and contemporary fine art.
His recent work positions birds as symbolic stand-ins for human emotions and behaviors, creating paintings that are both intimate and universal. By blending scientific observation with conceptual storytelling, Grice seeks to create images that encourage reflection, empathy, and a renewed connection to nature.
Grice's work has been exhibited throughout Western New York and has participated in group shows across the east coast. In 2026, he was awarded a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) grant, sponsored by Arts Services Inc, to create a public mural for Chautauqua Art Gallery. He recently won first place at the Thumb Box exhibition for the Buffalo Society of Artists at Meibohm Fine Arts in East Aurora, New York, and participated in A Founder's Legacy exhibition for the Society of Animal Artists, hosted by Brookgreen Gardens in Murrel's Inlet, South Carolina.
He lives and works in Jamestown, New York, with his wife and family.
His most recent work will be on display at the Octagon Gallery, in Westfield, NY from August-September 2026, and at Crary Art Gallery, in Warren, PA from December 2026-January 2027.
Current Representation: Art Cloth & Craft in Jamestown, NY, Painted Finch Gallery, in Corry, PA, and Chautauqua Art Gallery, in Jamestown, NY.
Current Membership includes: