Joe Fafard (1942–2019) was a Canadian sculptor celebrated for his humorous depictions of animals, artists and everyday people. Born in Ste. Marthe, Saskatchewan, he earned his B.F.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1966 and M.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University in 1968. While teaching at the University of Saskatchewan, Fafard encountered UC Davis alum David Gilhooly, whose irreverent approach to ceramics encouraged him to embrace clay as a sculptural medium. Fafard became known for expressive portraits of friends, neighbors and prominent artists, as well as cows, horses and other farm animals that reflected his Prairie upbringing. He later expanded his practice into bronze and monumental public sculpture. Fafard was a visiting artist at the University of California, Davis, from 1980–81. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1981, he received a major retrospective organized by the National Gallery of Canada and MacKenzie Art Gallery in 2007. His work is represented in major Canadian museum collections.