Joe Fafard was born September 2, 1942, in Ste. Marthe, Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (B.F.A. 1966); Pennsylvania State University State College (M.F.A. 1968); and was an instructor in sculpture, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, from 1968 to 1974. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Order of Canada in 1981, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Award in 1987, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2002 and le Prix Montfort in 2003.

His work is in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Edmonton Art Gallery, Montreal Museum of Fine Art, Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, among others.