Artist Rodney Winfield was born in New York City in 1925. From an early age, he was artistically inclined; he composed music, drew and painted, danced, wrote poetry, and created sculptures. As a young man, he studied music composition with composer Carl Ruggles. Choosing to focus on fine art, he attended Cooper Union School of Art in New York City.

After moving to St. Louis, Missouri, in his twenties, he started working at Emil Frei Stained Glass Company as a designer, and is still an active associate member of the Frei Company to this day. He has had an outstanding and lengthy career in liturgical and fine art. His work encompasses various media: Stained glass, silver repousse, painting and sculpture. Examples of his work are found in major collections, churches and synagogues throughout the country. Rodney was a Professor of Art at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, for well over 20 years. He retired from teaching, and now resides in Carmel, California.