Maine artist J. Fred Woell received a BFA in Art Education and a BS in Economics from the University of Illinois, an MS and an MFA in Art Metals from the University of Wisconsin and and MFA in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art.

His work is part of the permanent collections at the American Craft Museum in NYC, Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, the Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum, and many others.

In 2012, J. Fred Woell was the recipient of the prestigious SNAG Lifetime Achievement Award. He is noted for being the first in his field to work with both found objects and cast found objects.