José Sierra was born in Mérida, Venezuela in 1975. While a self-taught artist, he was introduced to ceramics at the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela, where he learned the basic skills of mixing clay, glazes, and wheel throwing. In 1996, Sierra began working professionally as an artist; by 2000, he was able to build his first American studio in Iowa. A decade later Sierra moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he maintains his studio today.

“My inspirations include pre-Hispanic art and architecture, and contemporary architecture and design. I also feel a connection with Japanese and Korean potters such as Wada Morihiro, who was also inspired by Pre-Colombian art. I also am drawn to the work of Tatsusuke Kuriki, Jun Kaneko, Robert Turner and Ken Price. I am also influenced by modern Venezuelan artists like Jesús Soto, Alejandro Otero, Carlos Cruz Diez and Gego,” states Sierra.

Sierra’s work is included in the collections of the Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID; University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN; Las Cruces Museum of Art, Las Cruces, NM; University Art Collection, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA; Kamm Teapot Foundation, Sparta, NC; Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS; San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX; University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA; Central College, Pella, IA; Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS; and in numerous private collections in the United States and Latin America.