John Spaulding

Who was John Spaulding?

John A. Spaulding was an American artist and sculptor from Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Lockefield Gardens, an Indianapolis public housing project on Indiana Avenue, which was known for its jazz clubs. Two of Spaulding's sculptures, Jammin' on the Avenue and Untitled, are located near his birthplace and celebrate the area's musical heritage.

Spaulding was the fifth of seven children. He attended Indianapolis Public Schools 24 and 26 and Arsenal Technical High School. He was a self-taught welder. Spaulding worked part-time on his art, while working as a metal-joining specialist in the aerospace industry in California in the 1960s. He relocated to New York City in 1978 and continued to work on his art. Spaulding's work is internationally recognized, with pieces on display in several countries including Brazil, Japan, France, and England. He had studios for creating his works in California, New York, Rio de Janerio, and Indianapolis. His sculptures have been inspired by nature and his African American heritage. He also created several large abstracts. Spaulding's work is included in private and public collections such as Black Titan at the Indianapolis Art Center's ArtsPark.