Adam Hunter Caldwell was born in Framingham Massachusetts. He received a BFA with honors from the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) in 1998 and has been a full-time fine arts instructor there since 2001. His paintings mix elements of abstract expressionism and classical figuration. Caldwell starts with an abstract background and then adds photo-realistic detail—a technique borrowed from collage drawing. The content of his work raises questions about human identity, particularly gender and sexuality roles. His artistic influences are Odd Nerdrum, Francis Bacon and Barron Storey, a teacher at CCAC. Caldwell also cites as influences the philosopher Daniel Dennett and his grandfather, the author Erskine Caldwell.