Noel O’Connell was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1999, with majors in art, anthropology, and Southeast Asian studies. During and after his university studies he spent three years in Thailand studying Thai painting and in 2000, received a Fulbright Grant to study temple mural restoration.

In 2001 he moved to Chicago and worked in Chinese/Thai antique restoration while continuing to make ceramics at Lil Street Art Center.

In 2004 Noel moved to China and helped start the company, Mei Design Co., making custom-manufactured porcelain art. After three years, he returned to the US to pursue an MFA in ceramics at Rhode Island School of Design, which he completed in spring 2009.

He has participated in artist residencies at Guldagergaard Ceramic Research Center in Denmark, Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, and La Ceiba Grafica in Mexico.