{{Short description|American artist (born 1955)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Terrell James | image = Terrell james herself 03.11.2012.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1955}} | birth_place = Houston, Texas | education = Instituto Allende{{br}}Sewanee: The University of the South | known_for = Painting, printmaking and sculpture | notable_works = | style = | website = https://www.terrelljames.com }} '''Terrell James''' (born 1955) is an American artist who makes abstract paintings, prints and sculptures. She is best known for large scale work with paint on stretched fabric, and for parallel small{{nbh}}scale explorations such as the ''Field Studies'' series, ongoing since 1997. She lives and works in Houston, Texas.
==Early life and education== Terrell James was born in Houston, Texas in 1955.<ref name=":6" /><ref>Lisa Gray, "[https://www.houstonpress.com/news/about-time-6561665 About Time]," Houston Press, Houston TX, April 21, 2001</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2016 |title=2016 Texas Artist of the Year |url=http://www.artleaguehouston.org/past-exhibitions-2016/ |access-date=August 27, 2017 |publisher=solo exhibition: Art League Houston}}</ref> A seventh generation Texan,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":13" /> she graduated from Houston's Lamar High School in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lamarhighschoolalumni.org/houston-tx/class-of-1973.html|title=Lamar High School Class of 1973|website=lamarhighschoolalumni.org}}</ref> In 1973 she studied painting and printmaking at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende (Guanajuato, Mexico).<ref name=":13" /> From 1973 to 1977 she attended The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where she continued her studies in painting and printmaking.<ref name=":13" />
==Art practice== ===Painting=== thumb|Hidden Histories, 2013, 42x72 James's<!--JAME zizz--> painting suggest ambiguous visions of nature, urban geometries and technical artifacts,<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=http://www.artleaguehouston.org/exhibition-catalogs-alh-merch/d32dtfwa9wy3f48lfyi3u9huwwbut9|title=Hover: Terrell James|last=Buhmann|first=Stephanie|publisher=Art League Houston|year=2016|location=Houston, TX|pages=3–7}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|last=Buhmann|first=Stephanie|date=November 2007|title=Terrell James: Witnessing Places|url=https://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/31259-terrell-james|journal=ArtSlant|location=London, UK}}</ref> resisting easy determination.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Gee, PhD|first=Allen|date=Winter 2002|title=Terrell James: Rouffignac & Field Studies|url=http://www.art-lies.org|journal=Art Lies|volume=37|pages=89}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite book|title=Impression and Sensation: The Painting of Terrell James|last1=Littman|first1=Robert|last2=Pillsbury|first2=Edmund P.|publisher=Pillsbury Peters Fine Art|year=2001|location=Dallas, TX|pages=2–4|asin=B00SNWO4EA}}</ref> Instead of obvious images and visual stability, the viewer finds a pictorial landscape composed of alternate potential readings.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> Writing for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Daniel Stern stated that "To gaze at a painting of [hers] is to enter into an experience in the making: painting in which the act of painting continues on as the eye wanders the finished surface. Each individual painting is completed by each individual encounter."<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston|last=Greene|first=Alison DeLima|publisher=Museum of Fine Arts, Houston|year=2000|isbn=089090-095-7|location=Houston, TX|pages=144}}</ref>
===Field studies=== thumb|Field Study FS-457, 2007, 20x16 James's numbered series ''Field Studies'', beginning in 1997, are small works devoted to ongoing, open-ended visualization.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=http://glasstire.com/2008/12/17/interview-with-terrell-james-preoccupations/|title=Interview with Terrell James: 'Preoccupations'|last=Dela|first=Sasha|date=December 17, 2008|publisher=Glasstire, Houston TX|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> Curator Alison de Lima Greene has written: "Sometimes a drawn line darts across the field or serves as a scaffold, sometimes pale afterimages challenge the viewer's eye, and even the occasional collaged element is welcomed as well."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Terrell James: Field Studies|last=Greene|first=Alison de Lima|year=2010|location=Houston, Texas|pages=4}}</ref> ''Field Studies'' are often made in parallel with much larger synchronous works, tracking their internal color relationships in a secondary form.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Petry|first=Michael|date=October 24, 2016|title=The Abstraction of the Physical into the Poetic|url=https://www.cadogancontemporary.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Terrell-James-Remember-the-Poison-Tree-catalogue.pdf|journal=Remember the Poison Tree|location=London, UK|publisher=Cadogan Contemporary|pages=7–12}}</ref>
==Related work== ===Forrest Bess and archival research=== From 1980 to 1985 James worked as a field collector and material archivist for the Archives of American Art,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaa.si.edu/services|title=Archives of American Art: Research and Reference Services|access-date=2017-08-27|date=2015-12-22}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2020}} at the Smithsonian Institution. While in this position, she was involved in the cataloging and exhibition of works by artist Forrest Bess.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forrestbess.org/about.html|title=About Forrest Bess|website=forrestbess.org|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref> This assignment included her research involving Bess's<!--BESS sizz--> family and contacts in Bay City, Texas, her cataloging of correspondence related to the artist's exhibition with New York gallerist Betty Parsons,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/items/detail/installation-view-forrest-bess-exhibition-betty-parsons-gallery-13660|title=View of Forrest Bess Exhibition at Betty Parsons Gallery|date=1962|publisher=Archives of American Art}}</ref> and her organization of the 1986 exhibition of Forrest Bess' paintings in collaboration with Hiram Butler Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hirambutler.com/flipbook/view/forrest-bess-paintings|title=Forrest Bess, 2016|last=Butler|first=Hiram|publisher=Hiram Butler Gallery|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref> This show led to the involvement of other galleries, such as New York's Hirschl & Adler Modern.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Forrest Bess|last=Shapiro|first=Meyer|publisher=Hirschl & Adler Modern|year=1988|isbn=0942051076|location=Chicago Ill}}</ref> Her research on Bess's life and work was seminal to the posthumous emergence of his worldwide following among collectors and institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/An-artist-s-artist-gains-a-wider-following-4431064.php|title=An artist's artist gains a wider following: The Menil Collection exhibit exposes the full story behind the enigmatic work of Forrest Bess|last=Glentzer|first=Molly|date=April 14, 2013|publisher=Houston Chronicle, Houston TX}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forrestbess.org/events.html|title=Forrest Bess, Events|website=forrestbess.org|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref> In addition to archival work, James was integrally involved in the production of films and books about Bess. James played the archetypal feminine figure of Forrest Bess in Jim Kanan's 1987 film of Bess, ''Fishmonger'', and was a primary source for Chuck Smith's book ''Key to the Riddle.''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XFKpBAAAQBAJ|title=Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle|last1=Smith|first1=Chuck|last2=Thurman, Robert (Foreword)|date=June 11, 2013|publisher=powerHouse Books|isbn=978-1-57687-675-6}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2020}}
==Exhibitions== thumb|Terrell James: A Place for Two Stones James has had solo exhibitions at a number of venues nationally, including Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR, The Cameron Museum of Art, Wilmington, NC,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cameronartmuseum.org/index.php?c=past-exhibitions#2011|title=Terrell James: Field Study|date=May 6, 2011|publisher=Solo exhibition: Cameron Museum of Art, Wilmington NC|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> and internationally at Cadogan Contemporary, London, UK, and Fundacion Centro Cultural, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Terrell James: Second Sight |publisher=Cadogan |year=2021 |location=London, UK}}</ref>
==Collections== *Whitney Museum of American Art<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whitney.org/artists/8247|title=Terrell James|website=whitney.org}}</ref> *Menil Collection, Houston<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.menil.org/collection|title=Collection Index: the Menil Collection}}</ref> *Watermill Collection (Robert Wilson Foundation, Water Mill, N.Y.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.watermillcenter.org/collection/|title=The Watermill Collection}}</ref> *Casa Lamm/Televisa Cultural Foundation and Museum (Mexico, D.F.) *Museum of Fine Arts, Boston<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.org/search|title=Search|website=Museum of Fine Arts, Boston}}</ref> *Museum of Fine Arts Houston<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfah.org/search?q=terrell+james|title=Search | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston|website=www.mfah.org}}</ref> *Dallas Museum of Art<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://collections.dma.org/artwork/5330479|title=Field Study 9, 1998: Collection of the Dallas Museum of Art|website=collections.dma.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-24}}</ref> *University of St. Thomas, Houston<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stthom.edu/Home/Index.aqf|title=University of St. Thomas | Catholic University Houston, Tx|website=www.stthom.edu}}</ref> *Albee Foundation, New York<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.albeefoundation.org/|title=The Edward F. Albee Foundation|website=The Edward F. Albee Foundation}}</ref> The Cameron Museum of Art (Wilmington, N.C.),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cameronartmuseum.org/|title=Cameron Art Museum | Wilmington, NC|website=cameronartmuseum.org}}</ref> *Free International University World Art Collection, the Netherlands<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fiuwac.com/fiuwac-gallery/?page=1|title=Collection Index: Works of Terrell James in FIUWAC Collection, The Netherlands}}</ref> *Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo Mexico D.F.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ccmc.org.mx/|title=Centro Contemporaneo, Mexico D.F.|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-date=2016-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616192207/http://www.ccmc.org.mx/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Portland Art Museum, Oregon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://portlandartmuseum.org/|title=Portland Art Museum – Portland, Oregon|website=Portland Art Museum}}</ref> *the Rice University Collection, Houston *United States Department of Stat,<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://art.state.gov/personnel/terrell_james/|title=Terrell James – U.S. Department of State|website=art.state.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref> *Museum of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sewanee.edu/|title=University of the South in Sewanee TN}}</ref> *San Antonio Museum of Art<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.samuseum.org/|title=San Antonio Museum of Art}}</ref> *Texas Tech University<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artistprintmakerresearchcollection.org/2016/01/26/print-closeup-terrell-james-untitled-iv-and-vii/|title=Print Closeup: Terrell James, Untitled IV and VII|date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> *National Gallery of Art<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Terrell |title=Field Study #725 |url=https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.223836.html |website=National Gallery of Art |access-date=2 February 2023 |date=2018 }}</ref>
==Recognition and commentary== *Texas Artist of the Year (Art League Houston, 2016)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Poetic-vision-of-Terrell-James-at-Art-League-10420739.php|title=Poetic vision of Terrell James at Art League Houston|last=Glentzer|first=Molly|date=October 28, 2016|publisher=Houston Chronicle, Houston TX|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://glasstire.com/2016/05/06/alh-announces-texas-artist-of-the-year/|title=ALH Announces Texas Artist of the Year|last=Newton|first=Paula|date=May 6, 2016|publisher=Glasstire, Houston TX|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artleaguehouston.org/past-exhibitions-2016/|title=2016 Texas Artist of the Year Exhibition: HOVER by Terrell James|website=www.artleaguehouston.org|orig-year=September 30 – November 19, 2016|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> *2014 Texas Art Hall of Fame (Houston Fine Art Fair)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/news/arts/05-230-14-houston-fine-art-fair-unveils-its-hall-of-fame-honorees/#slide=0|title=Top artists named to Houston Fine Art Fair's first-ever Hall of Fame|last=Staible|first=Heather|date=May 30, 2014|website=houston.culturemap.com|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/news/society/09-19-14-vips-beat-the-crush-on-opening-night-of-houston-fine-art-fair-with-international-flair/#slide=0|title=VIPs beat the rush on opening night of Houston Fine Art Fair with International Flair|last=Rhodes|first=Elizabeth|date=September 19, 2014|website=houston.culturemap.com|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> *Decorative Center Houston's 2013 Design Star Award<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodge |first=Shelby |date=May 3, 2013 |title=Billionaire developer swoops in from NYC to present Decorative Center Stars of Design awards |url=http://houston.culturemap.com/news/society/05-03-13-billionaire-developer-swoops-in-from-nyc-to-present-decorative-center-stars-of-design-awards/#slide=0 |access-date=August 27, 2017 |website=houston.culturemap.com}}</ref> *2010 Visual Arts Fellowship from the Edward Albee Foundation<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Albee Fellows: 2010 |url=http://www.albeefoundation.org/former-fellows-2010.html |access-date=August 27, 2017 |website=www.albeefoundation.org}}</ref> *2008 Texan-French Alliance for the Arts' TFAA Recognition Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://texanfrenchalliance.org/tfaa-art-recognition-award-and-auction/|title=TFAA Art Recognition Award and Auction|date=October 15, 2008|website=www.texanfrenchalliance.org|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *[http://www.art-lies.org/article.php?id=1643&issue=58&s=1 Bovee, Katherine, ''Virgil Grotfeldt and Terrell James at Froelick Gallery,'' Art Lies, Issue No.58, p 104, 2008.] *Buhmann, Stephanie (September 2016), ''Place and Transition in the Work of Terrell James'', HOVER: Art League 2016 Texas Artist of the Year, Houston TX, pp. 3–7. *[http://www.stephaniebuhmann.com/terrell.html Buhmann, Stephanie, ''Terrell James: Witnessing Places,'' ArtSlant, London UK, November 2007.] *Della Monica, Lauren P., ''Painted Landscapes: Contemporary Views,'' Schiffer Publishing, 2013. {{ISBN|0764343580}} *[http://www.houstonpress.com/news/about-time-6561665 Gray, Lisa, ''About Time: Terrell James's art hangs near a crossroads where her past and present intersect,'' Houston Press, Houston TX, pp. 12–13, April 26, 2001.] *Greene, Alison de Lima, ''Terrell James: Field Studies'', Houston TX, March 2011, pp. 3–5. *[http://glasstire.com/2005/04/02/walter-hopps-standing-sideways/ Hodges, Steve, ''Walter Hopps: Standing Sideways (Terrell James and Virgil Grotfeldt)'', Glasstire, Houston TX, April, 2005.] *[http://www.jasonmccoyinc.com/ex_tjames04/ex_tjam04_frames.html Hopps, Walter, (2004), ''The Painting of Terrell James'', Jason McCoy Inc., New York NY.] *[http://brooklynrail.org/2017/07/criticspage/On-Walter-Hopps-Terrell-James James, Terrell (July,2017), ''On Walter Hopps'', The Brooklyn Rail, Brooklyn NY, Critics' Page.] *Paglia, Michael and Edwards, Jim, ''Texas Abstract: Modern / Contemporary'', SF Design, llc/FrescoBooks, 2014.{{ISBN|1934491462}}. *Petry, Michael (October 2016), The Abstraction of the Physical into the Poetic, ''Remember the Poison Tree'', Cadogan Contemporary, London UK, pp. 7–12. *Pillsbury, Edmund P. and Littman, Robert R. (2001), ''Impression and Sensation: The Painting of Terrell James'', Pillsbury and Peters Fine Art, Dallas TX, pp. 2–4. ASIN B00SNWO4EA.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Terrell}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Artists from Houston Category:Sewanee: The University of the South alumni Category:21st-century American painters Category:21st-century American women artists Category:20th-century American painters Category:20th-century American women artists Category:Painters from Texas