Joseph Paul Cassar is an artist, art historian, curator and educator. He studied art at the Malta Government School of Art under Esprit Barthet and Harry Alden (1977-1980). He then proceeded to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci in Perugia, Italy (1980-1982) studying under Bruno Orfei, Romeo Mancini and Bruno Munari.

Joseph Paul Cassar is also a scholar, holds a PhD in Art History and Criticism from the University of Malta, an MFA from Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia, and an MA from Columbia Pacific University, San Rafael, California. He lectured within the Faculty of Education and the History of Art Department of the University of Malta (1993-2005). He was a Board member of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (1999-2003) responsible for the Visual Arts Programme and established an Artist-in-Residence Programme. He is the author of several monographs and books on the pioneers of modernism in Malta. He was a free-lance writer contributing art reviews for "The Daily News" (1978-1981) and for "The Times of Malta" (1996-2004).

Cassar was an artist-in-residence at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa in 2002 and at the Virginia Centre for the Creative Arts in 2003.
Currently he lectures at the University of Maryland University College, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., at the Johns Hopkins University Osher Program, Towson University, Notre Dame University Renaissance Institute, York College of Pennsylvania, Carroll Community College and Community College of Baltimore County amongst others.

He is Professor of Art at UMUC and conducts online art courses for the New York Times Knowledge Network. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland USA, yet keeps in touch with Malta with frequent visits and he still has a studio at St Paul's Bay.

Joseph Paul Cassar's art focuses on abstract expressions employing a variety of different media and techniques. His works on paper make use of collage and gouache or cut-out compositions using tempera exploring the contrast between flat colours and relief effects. Other works employ the interaction of inks and pastels and make use of recycled drawings. His works explore gestures, suggestive shapes, rhythm and space. Colour and light are important elements in the exploration of sculptural forms that cast shadows. It is an art that explores the relationship of forms and colour, creating a surface texture by dripping paint, bringing fragmented forms together in a coherent whole.