Cole M. James

Assistant Professor | BFA Animation

Education

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

Bio and 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 and Honors

2024
- Precipice Fund Grant Recipient-Portland Institute of Contemporary Art
- Teaching Excellence Award -Otis College of Art
2022-23
- Faculty Development Grant-Otis College of Art
2021-22
- Faculty Development Grant - Otis College of Art
2020
- Curriculum Development Grant- Otis College of Art
- ESMOA Film Festival Award Designer
2019
- Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation Fellow
2015
- Human Rights Leadrship Fellow – Amnesty International
2014
- Fiscal Sponsorship- Hatchfund
2010
- Art Merit Fellowship- Claremont Graduate University
- Minority Fellowship - Claremont Graduate University
- Certificate -Preparing Future Faculty & Curriculum Development Program - Claremont Graduate University
2009
- Walker Parker Fellowship - Claremont Graduate University
2008
- Albert B Friedman Grant- Claremont Graduate University
2007
- Studio Art Commencement Speaker
2007
- Mignon Schweitzer Award- Cal State San Bernardino
- Best in Show Juried Exhibition- Cal State San Bernardino
2006
- Innovations in Painting Award- Cal State San Bernardino
2006
- Certificate in Special Congressional Recognition - Cal State San Bernardino

Professional Accomplishments and Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2022
- Call Them In, William Roland Gallery of Fine Art Cal Lutheran University Thousands Oaks, CA
2019
- One Day, Performance Accra, Ghana
2019
- 3 Movements, Carolyn Glasoe Baily Foundation Ojai, CA
2013
- Fusion MIA, Artist Muse Productions Wynwood (Miami), FL
2011
- Fresh, Fruit Robert V Fullerton Museum San Bernardino, CA
2010
- Ontogeny, Peggy Phelps Gallery Claremont, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023
- David Hammons , Joan , The Garden Los Angeles CA
- De-Lie-Luh, Sur Biennale , Harris Gallery, Lavern CA
2022
- B-LA-M, Goethe Institute, Los Angeles CA
2021
- Art Beyond Survival-The Collective-Los Angeles, CA
- 9 Voices -Launch Gallery-Los Angeles, CA
2019
- Fierce Generosity 2.0, Burnet Fine Art+ Advisory, Wayzata, MN
- Radical Reading Room-Studio Museum Harlem-New York, NY
- De Colores Means All of US-Sur Biennale-Los Angeles, CA
2018
- Surreal By Nature, SBMCA + Hotel Indigo, Santa Barbara
- Holding Half The Sky-Roberts Projects-Culver City, CA
- Dirty Looks On Location-Jewels Catch/Union-Los Angeles, CA
- Gut Friends-Porch Gallery-Ojai, CA
- US-Peggy Phelps Gallery-Claremont, CA
2017
- Diasporgasm-South Bay Contemporary-Los Angeles, CA
- Black Mirror-Charlie James Gallery-Los Angeles, CA
- Black Women Artist for Black Lives Matter-Project Row Houses-Houston, TX
2016
- Skin-Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery-Los Angeles, CA
- Our Prime Property-http:// www.ourprimeproperty.org-Online Exhibition
2015
- Yes All Women-East LA Women’s Center-Los Angeles, CA
- Primo Lane-Outpost Projects-Joshua Tree, CA
- Savage Sentimentality-Wignall Museum-Rancho Cucamonga CA
2014
- Play The LA River-Project 50-Los Angeles, CA
2014
- Savage Sentimentality-Cerritos College Gallery-Cerritos, CA
- Transforming Feminisms-PS Zask Gallery-Rolling Hills Estate CA
2013
- Wayward-Peggy Phelps Gallery-Claremont, CA
- Doing Pennants-Fifth Floor Gallery-Los Angeles, CA
2012
- Abject Deco-PS Zask Art Gallery-Rolling Hills Estate CA
- Oasis-Shangrila Exhibitions-Joshua Tree, CA
- Medicine Chest-Lux Exhibition-Burbank, CA
2011
- Single Fare-Sloan Fine Art-New York, NY
- Inviting Internationally-Gallery Iang-Seoul, Korea
2009
- 29 by 92-Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation-Alta Loma, CA

Website Publications Videos

2022
- Love Berto + Cole James Eric Minh Swenson Art Films
2020
- Black University https://www.black-university.com/the-dark-arts-june-feature-cole-james
2018
- Lady Scumbag https://ladyscumbag.com/spoiled-milk/
2016
- Our Prime Property https://www.ourprimeproperty.org/cole-m-james.html

Visiting Artist Lectures/Presentations/Critiques

2022
- Stable Change: Enter Rhythm Life Long Burning Network, Berlin, Keynote Speaker
2020
- How to Survive in Quarantine, Liberated Art Collective, Facilitator
- Road Trip Ghana, Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation, Lecturer
- Artist Lecture, Wignall Museum, Chaffey College, Lecturer
- Visiting Artist Conversation, Claremont Graduate University, Lecturer
2019
- Include Me, Diversity Equity & Inclusion AICAD, Presenter
2018
- Designing Empathy , Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Workshop Facilitator
2016
- Analog Dissident , Lecturer
2015
- Lecture: Savage Sentimentality, Chaffey Community College , Lecturer
2014
- Play The LA River-Project 51 ,Workshop Facilitator
2012
- Mapping the Metropolis: HeArt Project LA & La Plaza de Culture y Artes, Workshop Coordinator
2009
- Annotations from the Past: Kara Walker, Pomona Museum Panelist

Collaborative Projects

2024 Paletas Communal Social , City of Portland, Portland OR Co-Facilitator
2023 Radical Hope/Black Mattering, Othering & Belonging Institute-Online
2022
- Stable Change: Enter Rhythm Life Long Burning Network, Berlin
- Open House: New Trends in Philosophy House Of Beautiful Business,
- Paletas Communal San Deigo, CA
2020
- Why Abstraction: Youth Justice Coalition Liberated Arts Collective, Los Angeles CA
2018
- Books That Breathe California African America Museum , Los Angeles CA
- Beyond Cages an Abolitionist Summit Justice LA, Lecturer, Los Angeles CA
- We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-85 , California African American Museum, Workshop Facilitator , Los Angeles CA
- Liberated Arts Collective District 11 Transitional Housing , Workshop Facilitator, Los Angeles CA
- We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85 Symposium CAAM Los Angeles CA

- Experimenting: Art+Ideas HeArt Project LA & Hammer Museum, Workshop Facilitator
  Los Angeles CA
2017
- Paletas SaMo City Of Santa Monica
2017
- Cruising Kchung @ The Getty, Los Angeles CA
2017
- LA Bird Day UCLA, Los Angeles CA
2016
- Black Mountain College: Experimenting: Art & Ideas Artworx LA & Hammer
  Los Angeles CA
2016
- Human Rights Leadership Conference Amnesty International St Louis, MO
2014
- Play The LA River Project 51 & UCLA Los Angeles CA
2012
- Mapping the Metropolis LA Plaza & Artworx LA Los Angeles CA
2012
- Iconic Women: HeArt Project LA & Hammer Museum ,Workshop Facilitator Los Angeles CA
2012
- Design In A Modern Way: HeArt Project LA& LACMA , Workshop Facilitator
  Los Angeles CA
2011
- Revisions of LA: Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions ,Workshop Facilitator
  Los Angeles CA

Publications

2021
- Liberation Tarot Deck, PM Press
- Remote Control, East of Borneo
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 and Employment History

Artiwox LA
Now Be Here
Artist Muse
Baseman Studios
City of Los Angeles