Jan Carl ter Weele (1935-2022) was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States after World War 2. He studied at Maine College of Art, Massachusetts College of Art, and at the Art Students League of New York. Ter Weele also attended Princeton, Harvard and held a doctorate in education management. He had a successful career in education, served in Maine Governor John McKernan's administration, and gained notoriety as an artist after retirement. His work is held in private collections throughout the world.