Joel Norman Barkley

Joel Norman Barkley is a freakishly diverse visual artist who has worked every annoying and crappy job that middle America has ever vomited up from every cliquey collective, small town, big city and random remote dwelling across a vast swath of mind-numbingly boring businesses and in nearly every completely unappealing and absolutely wretched industry.  

Joel believes that being an effective communicator should include visual art and moving pictures whenever possible and recognizes the fact that having too many strikingly gorgeous creative portfolios can subvert your career goals within midwestern collectives especially if you are card carrying member of the LGTBQ+ community. Joel describes himself as having a work ethic bordering on mental illness, though this is actually the very thing that has kept him sane over the years. 

In addition to his many striking illustrations, tectonically impressive millinery confections, otherworldly costumes, hypnotically transfixing/soul cleansing music videos and animated/interactive eBooks Joel works unceasingly towards completing his next independent film based on his book Bitterman Party of One. 

After running screaming from 4.5 years of nearly useless academic pursuits at Iowa State University Joel hitched a ride to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was afforded many glamorous employment opportunities including, but not limited to video store rental clerk, catering serf, renaissance gypsy dancer, stage door attendant, and floral designer, among others. Thankfully, these titularly, exquisite positions were a step up from shoveling hog manure on his parents farm and the alternating washing dishes and laundry routine he maintained at the local nursing home near his alma mater in Iowa.  Eventually Joel settled in as an independent contractor working as a decorative painter/muralist for many years.  

In 2015 Joel was awarded the Minnesota State Arts Board $10,000 artist initiative grant for his work on his second fully illustrated and animated children’s book Brunhilda Berkle’s Bumpy Brown Barn, successfully completed with public component presented on Level 9 of The Guthrie Theater. 

Currently he works the front desk at the American Swedish Institute as a visitor services associate assisting museum patrons with first world issues, processing admissions and crafty coursework purchases.  Joel keeps his opinions to himself applying them instead toward writing his memoirs.  To do otherwise would probably get him fired.

Additionally and unsurprisingly, Joel lives alone with his petulant and now extremely spoiled rescue cat Luna whom he calls Pinks for no apparent reason.  Joel named his ePublishing venture, The Kranky Kitty Alarm Clock Company, after his feline roommate in lieu of her early morning practice of vociferously announcing her displeasure with his most sensible habit of sleeping past the 5am hour.  

Joel also volunteers online answering requests from individuals struggling with anxiety, depression and general queries about navigating difficult situations, emotions and thoughts. All true.