John O’Connell was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from The Massachusetts College of Art in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. John received a Masters of Fine Art at the University of Connecticut in 1999 at which time he began teaching at Middle Tennessee State University remaining with that faculty until 2002.  He is currently an Assistant Professor of painting at the University of Utah.
O’Connell’s work has been exhibited in numerous museum exhibitions including The Brooks Museum of Art, The William Benton Museum of Art, the Woodbury Museum and The Paris Gibson Museum of Art.  He is represented by “A” Gallery, Salt Lake City, and prestigious galleries throughout the country.