John Henry Waddell was a distinguished American sculptor, painter, and educator whose work spanned more than six decades. Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1921, he developed an early love for art while growing up in the Midwest, beginning to teach art to others while still a teenager. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Waddell continued his art studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, earning both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Art Education. Waddell combined his artistic practice with a long career in art education before devoting himself fully to his own work. He taught adult art classes in Chicago, led art education programs at institutions including the Institute of Design (New Bauhaus) and Arizona State University, and developed programs for students with varying abilities. Later in life he built a studio amid the landscapes of the American Southwest that became a creative hub for students and fellow artists alike. Best known for his expressive figurative sculptures, Waddell’s work often celebrates the beauty, movement, and dignity of the human form. His bronze figures are noted for their sensitivity, dynamic posture, and emotional resonance. One of his most iconic works — That Which Might Have Been — is a memorial responding to the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, honoring four young girls whose lives were cut short. Over the course of his life, Waddell created more than 150 large-scale bronze sculptures, numerous paintings and drawings, and numerous groupings of figures. His pieces are displayed in public spaces across the United States and abroad, and his work has been exhibited in solo and group shows for decades. Waddell remained active in his studio well into his later years. He and his wife Ruth shared a deep creative partnership, with each inspiring the other’s work. John Henry Waddell passed away in 2019 at the age of 98, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an artist deeply committed to humanism, craft, and artistic expression.