Joseph Iacona (he/him) is a visual artist, community engagement specialist, public arts professional, and restorative practitioner. He has led community art projects in schools, libraries, museums, prisons, shelters, and other public service centers throughout Philadelphia and this work has been highlighted in museums, galleries, and major public spaces over the last 20 years.

Joseph has worked with internationally recognized art organizations, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mural Arts Philadelphia, The Clay Studio, the Museum for Wood in Art, leading more than 100 community art initiatives and artist residencies throughout the city. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, he developed large interdisciplinary civic engagement projects with youth, including collaborations with Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia Ballet, and more. As Manager of Delphi Programs for the museum’s division of Learning & Engagement, Joseph advanced robust educational programming, introducing Restorative Practices and Trauma-informed approaches to museum educator pedagogy, and helped fellow artists enhance their socially engaged practices while supporting educators and their students.

Joseph has worked in multiple capacities with Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art non-profit since 2009, as a muralist, educator, senior program manager, and now as the Director of the Mural Arts Institute (MAI). As the Director of MAI, Joseph helps artists and community leaders engage in participatory art practices locally, nationally, and globally. Between 2022 and 2023, he managed the Public Art & Civic Engagement (PACE) Initiative, which organizations in three US cities to built capacity to develop sustainable and fair practices for working with artists and communities art in public spaces. Joseph also co-curated the Created, Together. symposium, bringing together 200 artists from the US and Puerto Rico to Philadelphia to discuss important issues in community engaged public art and co-organized the publication Reflecting, Together.: Essays in Response to Created, Together. Through MAI, he has contributed to artist training and consultations for individuals and organizations from countries around the world.

Iacona has a Master of Science in Restorative Practices with a specialization in Community Engagement from the International Institute for Restorative Practices and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in Art History from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Joseph has published writings on contemporary art and community-based art practices for various outlets including Art21 Magazine. He has served for juror, panelist, and on committees for multiple initiatives including as a grant panelist for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s 2025 Flex Fund, on the 2023 Content Advisory Committee for the American Alliance of Museums, and more.