Artist | Crystal James | Resides | United States |
Website | crystaljamesart.com | Mediums | Watercolour Oil Mixed Media |
Representing Gallery | Art Works Inc. Richmond, VA. USA Nanny Goat Gallery Petaluma, CA. USA | cajames.101@gmail.com | |
Follow the Artist | Themes | Youth and Beauty Death Food |
About the artist
Crystal James was classically trained in painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Denver in 2007. At the end of 2019 through 2022 she suffered a series of personal losses and a massive amount of change.
Artwork Themes & Subject Matter
Crystal James’ art delves into the themes of youth and beauty, and food and death.
Youth and beauty are often seen as synonymous, but she believes that beauty goes beyond the surface level. As she depicts youthful subjects in my art, crystal aims to capture the essence of their innocence, curiosity, and wonder. She wants to celebrate the beauty that comes from living in the present moment, unencumbered by the weight of past experiences.
But as we grow older, we become more aware of our own mortality, and the concept of death becomes a more prominent theme in our lives. Food is a reminder of this reality, life is sweet but short. Through my art, she seeks to explore the bittersweet nature of this cycle, celebrating the joy of food while acknowledging that we will not live forever.
Ultimately, crystal’s art is a meditation on the impermanence of life, and the beauty that can be found in every stage of our journey. Through her depictions of youth, beauty, food, and death, she hope to inspire viewers to be present in the moment, and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around them.
Press
Crystal James’ work has been shown in Marvelous Art Magazine.
Upcoming Exhibitions
When | Exhibition | Gallery |
June 2024 | Group exhibition: “Myth” | Modern Eden Gallery San Francisco, CA. USA |
June 2024 | Group exhibition: “Ephemeral” | Nanny Goat Gallery San Francisco, CA. USA |
August 2024 | Group exhibition: “Carnival Fabulon” | Brassworks Gallery Portland, OR. USA |
August 2024 | Group exhibition: “Group Show” | Brassworks Gallery Portland, OR. USA |
September 2024 | Solo exhibition: “Everything falls apart, even the Mona Lisa” | ArtWorks Richmond, VA. USA |
CV
Education
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
2006
University of Denver Bachelor of Fine Arts
Internship at Denver Art Museum Conservation
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Such and Such, BrassWorks Gallery, Portland, OR. United States
Bloom, RW Norton Gallery, Juried Show Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
2023
Art Works: Group Showing Winter 2023, Richmond, VA. United States
Black and White Group Show, Metamorphosis Art Gallery, Perth Western Australia
Middle Earth Group Show, “&” Gallery, Tucson, Arizona United States
WILD, Ann Marie Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institute, Solomons, Maryland, United States
Group Show, Nanny Goat Gallery, San Francisco, CA. United States
Postcard Show, BrassWorks Gallery, Portland, OR. United States
2022
Grtists Gallery: Group Show Open Call, Ellicott City, MD. United States
2021
Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, VA. United States
2020
Gallery 9, Phoenix, AR. United States
Las Vegas Museum Gallery of Fine Art, Las Vegas, NV. United States
2019
Gallery 9, Phoenix, AR. United States
Wildlife, Las Lagones Gallery, Monterey, CA. United States
2018 Oceans, Las Vegas Museum Gallery of Fine Art, Las Vegas, NV. United States