Adam Caldwell's paintings and drawings juxtapose elements of abstract expressionism and classical figuration. He studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts, creating layered collage drawings then oil paintings. His layered and fractured paintings evoke the tensions between mind and body, self and other, present and past. They also raise questions about the nature of identity, particularly concerning issues of gender and sexuality. The works reflect on social issues such as war and consumerism by contrasting images from American advertisements and popular culture with images of rituals from around the world. He lives and works in San Francisco, CA.