John Spelman was born in Owatonna, MN on September 30, 1880. He was a pupil of the Art Institute of Chicago. Memberships included: Chicago Painters and Sculptors; Chicago Society of Artists; Palette and Chisel Club; Chicago Artist’s Guild; Oak Park and River Forest Art Leagues; Chicago Galleries Association; Duluth Art League; All-Illinois Society of Fine Arts; Illinois Academy of Fine Arts.

Spelman garnered the following awards: Englewood Woman’s Club prize; Art Institute of Chicago, 1926; two prizes, Chicago Galleries Association, 1927 and 1928; Gold medal, Association of Chicago Painters and Sculptors, at Art Institute of Chicago; first prize Chicago Galleries Association, 1929; Gold medal Oak Part Art League, 1930.

John Spellman is represented in the collections of the: Springfield Art Association; the Chicago Athletic Club; the University of Nebraska; State Museum, Springfield, IL.

Biographical Sources:

• Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975, Vol. 111: P-Z