1911 and Beyond: The Art of Joseph Safina—A Life of Constant Reinvention
Joseph Safina is no stranger to reinvention. From Wall Street to the racetrack, and now to the art studio, his life has been anything but conventional. What makes Safina unique is his relentless pursuit of passion, no matter the medium. His latest venture, art, reveals yet another side of this multifaceted man—one that combines a lifetime of high-stakes experiences into something deeply personal.
A Life Full of Turns
For Safina, change has always been a constant. He started young, first with a telephonic company, then diving headfirst into the world of finance, co-founding Nichols, Safina, Lerner & Co., a firm that grew into a major player on Wall Street. But for Safina, success in one area only fueled his desire to push further.
After mastering finance, he pivoted to music, founding five record labels and producing for a variety of artists. From there, his interests took him into the world of racing, where he found himself competing in prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. It’s not often you meet someone who has been successful in finance, music, and professional racing, but for Safina, these chapters of his life all speak to a bigger theme: a constant drive to evolve and challenge himself.
Art as the Next Evolution: The Birth of 1911
Today, Safina’s evolution has taken him into the world of visual art, where his latest work, 1911, stands as a symbol of both his past and his future. A mixed media piece that incorporates a decommissioned 1911 firearm encased in resin, the work speaks to Safina’s ongoing fascination with transformation.
Measuring just 10 x 10 x 3 inches, 1911 is deceptively simple in its presentation, but like the man behind it, there’s much more beneath the surface. For Safina, the gun isn’t just a relic of the past; it’s a metaphor for change. Once a weapon of destruction, the firearm in his piece is now frozen in time, repurposed as art. It’s a powerful reminder that even things with the darkest of histories can be transformed into something meaningful and beautiful.
Power, Control, and Reinvention
At the heart of Safina’s art is a deep understanding of power and control, themes that have followed him throughout his life. Whether he was closing deals in finance, producing records, or speeding around a racetrack, Safina has always been in high-pressure environments where precision and risk management are everything.
This same meticulousness translates into his art. In 1911, the careful balance of materials—resin, metal, history—reflects a sense of control over chaos. But there’s also a sense of letting go, of allowing the viewer to interpret what this piece means in their own way. It’s not just about Safina’s story; it’s about how these themes resonate universally with anyone who’s ever had to reinvent themselves.
Personal and Powerful: The Man Behind the Art
What makes Safina’s transition to art so compelling is that it feels personal. There’s no sense of rushing into this new chapter for the sake of it. His art is thoughtful, deliberate, and reflective of his journey. In many ways, creating these pieces allows him to slow down and process the whirlwind of his life so far.
With 1911, Safina captures not just the transformation of an object but his own constant state of reinvention. And it’s not just about showcasing technical skill. For Safina, it’s about telling a story—one where power can be redefined, history can be rewritten, and what was once destructive can be reshaped into something new.
What’s Next for Joseph Safina?
It’s clear that Joseph Safina’s story is still being written. From the fast-paced world of finance to the competitive racetrack, and now to the quiet, introspective world of art, Safina has shown that no matter the medium, his passion and drive remain the same. What’s next for him? It’s hard to say. But if there’s one thing we know, it’s that whatever he does, he’ll do it with the same energy, creativity, and fearlessness that have defined his journey so far.
With 1911 and beyond, Safina is crafting more than just art—he’s crafting his legacy. And like his life, it’s bound to be full of unexpected turns, risks, and reinventions.