Joe was born in Kemano, BC but has spent much of his adult life in the Vancouver area. Joe began carving wood in his early thirties, creating masks, paddles and drums. He has worked on numerous pole projects within Vancouver and has volunteered in Vancouver elementary and secondary schools by offering drum-making workshops. In 2009, Joe graduated from Vancouver's Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts program under established Haida/Kwakwaka'wakw artist, Dan Wallace. Joe is the brother of artist Cedric Bolton.