John Leon is a Cincinnati native and first-generation Greek- American, whose parents, Pete and Mary originated from the village of Geraki in Southern Greece. (Their name was shortened to "Leon" from "Leontakianakis" at immigrations.)

He first became enamored with sculpting during art classes at Walnut Hills High School. He thought that sculpture would become a life-long hobby.

Leon went on to attend the University of Cincinnati to pursue medical studies and became certified in respiratory therapy. While working part time in respiratory therapy he also took elective classes at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and began sculpting with Jay Bolotin and Walter Driesbach, who inspired him enough to make sculpting his life long pursuit. He started exhibiting his work at small venues like Greek festivals, sidewalk shows, and art fairs and then later he started to exhibit in national and international shows, and in galleries and museums.

He works primarily in bronze, stone, and wood and has created awards, plaques, portrait busts, and monuments for public, private and corporate patrons; plus a large body of person works totaling over five hundred bronzes, forty carvings in stone and wood, and untold works in gypsum, ceramics, resin, and steel that can be found in various collections on five continents.  His uncommon creativity and versatility in styles and media serve him well in providing a wide range of possibilities for his patrons seeking the finest in meaningful and symbolic sculptural monuments, awards, busts, and figures as symbols for their organizations, themselves or their families.

Leon taught stone carving at the Art Academy of Cincinnati's Community Education Program for five years, and he now teaches stone and wood carving, clay modeling, and mold making in his private studio.

Leon is an exhibiting member of the National Sculpture Society and member of the Cincinnati Art Club.