John Henry Waddell was raised in the Midwest and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago.  He moved to Arizona in 1957 where he headed the art education department at Arizona State University.  During this time Waddell made sculpture his primary art form.  Waddell has been teaching and exhibiting his work, both in one-man shows and permanent displays throughout the United States.  A prolific artist, at age 43 he resigned from teaching to become a full-time sculptor. His work has been acquired and displayed nationwide from the Mondavi Vineyards in Napa Valley, California, to the Flushing Meadows Tennis Center in New York City, and 14 public venues in Phoenix, AZ (Civic Plaza, Art Museum, Herberger Theatre, Sedona Cultural Park..).