Joseph Zampella was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was interested in art at a very young age and displayed his natural-born artistic talent by spending most of his time drawing pictures. When he was very young he entered a "Draw Me" contest and won first place in the entire U.S. He was given a full scholarship to an art school in Boston. Unfortunately, since it meant leaving home at a very young age, he was unable to take advantage of it. But he never gave up his dream.

While working as a butcher in Brooklyn, Joe took a course in stained glass in NYC. He mastered the techniques right away, making pieces as a hobby. People were very impressed with his work, and he began getting requests for custom pieces. His artistic talent combined with his skill in cutting meat worked to his benefit. Each piece he made became more and more intricate. Collectors and colleagues praise Joe for his eye for detail and color, in addition to his expert craftsmanship.

Joe also creates unique hand-made wooden frames that adorn and complete his stained-glass pieces. Each one is individualized for the work it frames. In the mid 1990s his work was displayed in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., and he continued to work on private commissions.

In 1999 he retired from meat-cutting and moved to New England where he was able to devote more time to making stained glass works. It wasn't long before he became recognized for his unique style. Joe was featured in the York Weekly newspaper in May, 2001, after a reporter saw his work exhibited at the member's show at the York Art Association.

Each stained-glass piece varies in size, most average 20"x24". Most of the work contains approximately 150-300 pieces of cut glass. Each work is original and one-of-a-kind. Joe is a perfectionist and enjoys a challenge. He recently opened his home gallery in Southern Maine called "A Touch of Glass."

His work has been displayed in Hampton and Portsmouth NH, York, Cape Neddick, Kennebunkport, and Ogunquit, ME and other areas along the seacoast.

Private custom collectors include Nik S, board member of the American Lighthouse Association, who commissioned Joe to create a lighthouse piece in stained glass entitled "Quoddy Lighthouse." Nik calls Joe "The Picasso of Stained Glass." Joe collaborated with wildlife artist Carol Santora to create a stained glass piece of her watercolor painting entitled 'Tiger Eye.' He also did a posthumous glass work of a beloved Samoyed for her owner, Becky C. of St. Louis, MO. Becky was amazed at the resemblance Joe could achieve of her dog using pieces of glass as his paintbrush.