Jack Meanwell

(Canadian-American, 1919–2005)

Jack Meanwell was a Canadian-born artist known for his dynamic landscapes and figurative works, spanning styles from realism to abstraction. A beloved instructor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati for over 25 years, Meanwell had a lasting impact on generations of artists in the region.

Born in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit, Meanwell studied at the Detroit Art Academy and the Society of Arts and Crafts. During the Great Depression, he shifted from fine art to commercial art, later serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, where he trained ground crews in radar technology.

In the postwar years, Meanwell worked in advertising before relocating with his family to Cincinnati, where he joined his father-in-law in running the Wallingford Coffee Company. In 1972, he returned fully to his passion for painting and began teaching at the Art Academy. His vibrant, expressive works reflect a lifetime of observation, experimentation, and deep artistic conviction.