John Maxwell was born in Rochester, NY in 1909. After going to Philadelphia in 1938, he became vice president of Hutchins Advertising and later set up his own ad agency with his brother called Maxwell Associates.  He retired in 1967 to paint and write articles about art and artists for various magazines.  He passed away in 1997 due to complications from asthma.

Studied: Rochester Institute of Technology; University of Rochester; Provincetown workshop with Victor Candell and Leo Manso.

Awards:  Pennsylvania Academy - Dana Medal; American Watercolor Society 1974 Silver Medal of Honor, 1976 Edgar A. Whitney Award, Mario Cooper Award; Grumbacher Award; Purchase prize at Butler Institute; Audubon Aritsts 1977 medal of honor; Philadelphia Watercolor Club best in show and two purchase awards; Rutgers University National Drawing Annual 1977 purchse prize; Philadelphia Sketch Club three first awards; Washington DC Watercolor Club three awards; DaVinci Alliance three awards.

Exhibits : (solo)

Philadelphia Art Alliance (4); Lehigh University (2); Piccolo Mondo in Palm Beach

(3); Woodmere Gallery (3); Bryn Mawr Art Center; Beaver college; Gallery Vendome in Pittsburgh; University City Science Center in Philadelphia; Everhart Museum in Scranton; Fontan Gallery in Philadelphia (3); Chiara Gallery in Cleveland.

Invited National Shows : 

Smithsonian Institution; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; National Academy of Design; Toledo Museum of Art; American Watercolor Society National Traveling Exhibitions; Butler Institute of American Art; Norfolk Museum; University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School; Detroit Institute of Arts; Virginia Museum; Nordness Gallery in New York; Pittsburgh Plan for Art; Philadelphia Water Color Club.

Juried Exhibitions : 

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Butler Institute of American Art; Chicago Art Institute; San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor; Indiana State Teachers College; Corcoran Gallery; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Watercolor USA; National Academy Annuals; American Watercolor Society Annuals; Rutgers University National Drawing Annuals; Philadelphia Water Color Club Annuals; Audubon Artists Annuals; Silvermine Guild Annuals; National Society, Painters in Casein and Acrylic Annuals.