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Cole M James
Assistant Professor and Area Head, Principles of Design and Connections Through Color
Teaches In
Animation
Foundation
Education: 

Master of FIne Arts, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California
Bachelor of Arts, California State University at San Bernardino

Bio/Affiliation: 

Cole M James (They/Zi/She) is an interdisciplinary artist. Their work uses both figurative and abstract images, sound and scent to amplify the subtle ways perception can collapse and expand time. James received their MFA from Claremont Graduate University in Installation & Digital Media. “I make work as a negotiator, navigating the African Diaspora, circling the expanse of queerness and traversing through womanhood. I am interested in the intersections between digital production and the analog collecting of lived experiences." James works and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Cole James is a Somatic Abolition Communal Consultant and on the Development Team For Artist Infrastructure Initiative at Now Be Here. James is also part of the Collective Abayomi facilitated by Bayo Akomolafe.

James's collaborative work includes organizations centering on restorative justice and environmental advocacy throughout Los Angeles and abroad. Community Collaborators include: artworx LA, Liberated Justice Coalition, UCLA, FOLAR, California African American Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, Michelada Think Tank, Play the LA River, LA Bird Day, Black Women Artist for Black Lives Matter, Justice LA, Los Angeles Nomadic Division, Emergence Network, and Judson Studios.

Awards/Honors: 
  • 2022 Stable Change, Enter Rhythm, Keynote Speaker, Uferstudios Choreographic Convention VIII Berlin
  • 2021, Edifice Artifice, was acquired by the University of La Verne and now part of their permanent collection.
  • 2020, Design for the ESMOA Film Festival Rise Up Awards  
  • 2019, Artist in Residence Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation in Ojai, California
  • 2015, Human Rights Leadership Fellowship Amnesty International  
  • 2014, Project 51 Play The LA River Workshop Fellowship  
Professional Accomplishments/Exhibitions:  
  • 2023 Cole M James. 
  • 2023 Cole M James. Let it Be. Open House, Big Beautiful Business
  • 2022 Cole M James. Call Them In.  William Rolland Fine Art Gallery Cal Lutheran University
  • 2021 Art Beyond Survival. Los Angeles Art Gallery
  • 2021 Dark Artist.  Black University. 
  • 2020 3 Movements: Rue Project, Carolyn Galsoe Bailey Foundations. Ojai, CA 
  • 2019 De Colores Means All of Us, Sur Biennale. Los Angeles, CA
  • 2018 Holding Half The Sky, Roberts Projects. Culver City, CA
  • 2018 Dirty Looks On Location, Jewels Catch/Union. Los Angeles, CA
  • 2018 Gut Friends, Porch Gallery. Ojai, CA
  • 2018 Us, Peggy Phelps Gallery. Claremont, CA
  • 2017 Diasporgasm, South Bay Contemporary. Los Angeles, CA
  • 2017 Bird Day LA, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2017 Black Mirror, Charlie James Gallery. Los Angeles, CA 
  • 2017 BWA-BLM, Project Row Houses. Houston, TX
  • 2016 Skin, Los Angeles Municipal Gallery. Los Angeles, CA
  • 2015 Savage Sentimentality, Wignall Museum. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • 2014 Transforming Feminisms, PSZask Gallery. Rolling Hills Estates, CA
  • 2013 Wayward, Peggy Phelps Gallery. Claremont, CA
  • 2012 Medicine Chest, Lux Exhibition. Burbank, CA
  • 2011 Single Fare, Sloan Fine Art. New York, NY
Publications:  
  • 2020, Remote Control, East of Borneo -Cal Arts 
  • 2020, How To Survive A quarantine, Liberated Arts Collective  
  • 2014, ARTICULATE II, Fantastic Heliotherapy Publication  
  • 2011, ARTICULATE I, Fantastic Heliotherapy Publication  
  • 2010, Objective Affection Fantastic, Heliotherapy Publication
Clients/Employment History:  
  • 2018-Current, Assistant Professor, Otis College of Art  
  • 2019, Adjunct Professor, Claremont Graduate University  
  • 2017, Adjunct Professor, Glendale Community College  
  • 2015-2018, Adjunct Professor, La Verne University  
  • 2015, Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University  
  • 2016-2017, Adjunct Professor, Otis College of Art  
  • 2015-2016, Lecturer, Otis College of Art  
  • 2011-2015, Educational Associate, Otis College of Art  
  • 2010-2015, Adjunct Professor, Santa Monica College  
  • 2011-2015, Workshop Coordinator, Artworx LA  
  • 2010, Teaching Artist, HeArt Project/Artworx LA  
  • 2010, Instructor, Digital Media, Coral Art Institute  
  • 2008-2010, Teaching Assistant, Scripps College