Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Joe Ray of Scottsdale/Phoenix

We recently had the chance to connect with Joe Ray and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Wandering with purpose. That’s walking the path, enjoying the sunrises.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an artist. I’m a creative entrepreneur. My work includes painting, printmaking, sculpture, and public art. What excites me the most about public art is how it allows me to bring my skillsets, which combine concept, design, storytelling, and collaboration to create work that lives in the public sphere. This allows people to interact with the art on a different scale.

Along with my creative practice, I teach art and design. Recently, I began teaching a 400-level course titled Cultural Relevance and Branding at Arizona State University, where I help students explore the connections between identity, culture, design, and branding.

My background is in creative marketing. I founded two design and branding firms and worked as an art director and strategist in agencies. Those experiences taught me how to design with purpose and shape meaningful narratives; skills that fuel the focus and vision behind my art, whether on canvas, paper, public spaces, or in the classroom. My work is about creating vibrant, culturally rooted stories that connect people and spark imagination.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
A shy kid who dreamed of someday being an artist but kept it to himself.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t be so damn hard on yourself.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The need to be creative. Also, I protect the richness of my heritage; it shapes how I see the world, as well as how I create. My Mexican American heritage is rooted in an ancestral lineage of artists, builders, astronomers, and storytellers – people who engineered with precision and looked to the cosmos with wonder. I feel a responsibility to carry that spirit into the 21st century with passion and creativity.

Speaking Spanish is also central to that value. It’s more than a language; it shapes thought, culture, and identity. In today’s socio-political climate, it’s important not only to protect it, but it’s also my creative duty.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Being an artist feels right – it’s who I am. My journey has been shaped by both what I was told to do, as well as what I was born to do. But now I’m in the driver’s seat.

At this point in my life, I’m more intentional about the advice I follow, choosing to listen selectively to voices that hold meaning for me. This approach isn’t just about the present; it’s rooted in past wisdom (including a bunch of mistakes and various screw ups) as well. I’ve learned that guidance comes in many forms, and sometimes it’s important to reflect on what came before to truly understand where I’m heading.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joeray.com/
• Instagram: @joeraycr8iv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeraycr8iv
• Twitter: @JoeRayCr8iv
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.ray2
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joeray2579