John C. Kacere, was born to a Lebanese-American family in Walker, Iowa on June 23, 1920.  He earned his B.F.A. and his M.F.A. from the University of Iowa in 1949 and 1950 respectively, studying printmaking with Mauricio Lasansky. He began his teaching career in 1950 at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He also taught at the University of Florida, Arizona State University, the Rhode Island School of Design, New York University, the University of New Mexico, and Cooper Union and the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Originally an abstract expressionist, Kacere adopted a photorealist style in 1963. Nearly all of his photorealist paintings depict the midsection of the female body. He is considered one of the original photorealists, although he rejected the term. he is best known for his paintings of the female body, particularly midsections, clothed in lingerie. These larger-than-life paintings often drew criticism from feminists, but he maintained his work is a celebration of womanhood. Kacere’s work is held in major collections including Stedeljik Museum in Amsterdam, Holland, Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon, and the J.B. Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. Before his death in 1999, Kacere taught at several notable universities including Cooper Union, New York University, Parsons School of Design, and School of Visual Arts.

John C. Kacere died on August 5, 1999 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.