Joyce McAdams was born in Massachusetts and studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. Since 1971 she has exhibited her paintings throughout the country. Her work has been featured at the National Gallery of American Art in Washington, the Guggenheim Museum of Art and shops and galleries in Boston, Washington, NewYork, Atlanta, Santa Fe and New Oleans and many other major cities. Her work is an intricate mosaic of images. It appeals to many levels of consciousness, is literate, often humorous and touches deeply rooted mythical elements in our lives. Her work has been described as "intricate as a Byzantine mosaic appealing to many levels of our subconscious."