Nathan James
Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, Nathan James currently lives and works in London, UK. Exhibiting extensively, James has had shows in North America and Europe. His work was also selected to show in SCOPE Miami in 2009, SCOPE New York in 2006, and SCOPE London in 2005.
James’ photo based paintings of trendy youths are intervened by helpings of obnoxious neon slashes, cuts and splashes comprising of pop elements such as cartoons, graphics and text, to create his distinctive style. These combinations of techniques and styles collide as cartoon and plastic clash with James’ figurative flesh and bone elements.
With these paintings James explores the notion that mass media materialism can indeed fulfill some of their promises of leisure and enjoyment but at the cost of forfeiting some of the subjects’ humanity.
Curriculum Vitae
1979 Born in Kirkland Lake, ON.
Currently living and working in London, UK.
Education
1998-02 Diploma in Visual Art Studies, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, ON.
1997-98 Foundation Studies Diploma, McMaster University/ DVSA, Hamilton, ON.
Solo Exhibitions
2008 On Sugar Mountain, Leslie’s Gallery, Luxembourg, LU.
2008 Pleasure Island, Empire Gallery, London, UK.
2007 Ballads, MLIA Gallery, London, UK.
2005 Consumption Junction, Gallery Neubacher, Toronto, ON.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Hammer Horror, Opus Art Gallery, Newcastle, UK.
2009 Revert To Type, Opus Art Gallery, Newcastle, UK.
2009 Return to Reason II, The Empire Gallery, London, UK.
2009 Black Market 2, Opus Art Gallery, London, UK.
2009 Group Show, The Garage CCC Moscow, London UK.
2009 LONDON LOVES…The way things fall apart, Galleria Aus 18, Milan, IT.
2008 Contemporary Painting, Opus Art Gallery, Newcastle, UK.
2008 Kounter Kulture, Opus Art at the Truman Brewery, London, UK.
2008 LoveArt, LoveBox Music Festival, London, UK.
2008 Mash Ups: Post-pop Fragments & Detournements, Kowalsky Gallery at DACS, London, UK.
2008 Group Show, MLIA Gallery, London, UK.
2007 Group Show, MLIA Gallery, London, UK.
2007 Dorian Gray Project Part 2: Happy Days, John Jones Gallery, London, UK.
2007 Group Show, The Empire Gallery, London, UK.
2007 Young Emerging Artists, Leslie’s Art Gallery, Luxembourg, LU.
2005 S.S.K.A.A., Spoke Club, Toronto, ON.
2005 Summer Fling, Gallery Neubacher, Toronto, ON.
2005 Mix Blender 3, Mind Control Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2005 Spring Phantasm Show, 2/20 Gallery, New York, NY.
2004 Panorama, S.P.I.N. Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2004 Efficiency 2, Mind Control Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2004 Valley Boys, Gallery Neubacher, Toronto, ON. (2 Person)
2004 Monkey See Monkey Do, S.P.I.N. Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2004 Gallery Artists Group Show, Gallery Neubacher, Toronto, ON.
2004 The Parrot Project, Fran Hill Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2003 Supernumerary, The Fanny Larouche Artspace, Toronto, ON.
2003 Two Weeks in Autumn, Greener Pastures Contemporary Art, Toronto, ON.
2003 Instant Coffee, The Urban Disco Trailer, Toronto, ON.
2003 New Paintings, Gallery Death, Toronto, ON.
2002 The War Show, Art System, Toronto, ON.
2000 Hugs- A Show of Affection, Art System, Toronto, ON.
Selected Art Fairs/Biennales
2010 AAF Contemporary Art fair, Brussels, BE.
2009 SCOPE Miami, Miami, FL.
2009 Bridge Art Fair, New York, NY.
2008 SCOPE Miami, Miami, FL.
2008 AAF Contemporary Art fair, London, UK.
2006 SCOPE New York, New York, NY.
2005 SCOPE London, London, UK.
2005 Nova Young Art Fair, Chicago, IL.
2004 AAF Contemporary Art fair, New York, NY.
2004 [R][R][F] 2004—>XP, Biennale for Electronic Arts, Perth, Australia.
2004 SPACEMAKERS, Lothringer Dreizen, Munich, Germany.
Awards
2001 Hamilton Women’s Association Tuition Scholarship
Lectures/Panels/Teaching
2008 Gallery Talk, The Kowalsky Gallery at The Design and Artists Copyright Society, London, UK.
2002 Lecture and studio visits DVSA at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
Bibliography
Catalogues:
2008 AAF Contemporary Art fair. London, UK.
2004 AAF Contemporary Art fair. New York City: Pier 92.
Articles and Reviews:
Bollen, G.: GizMag PdfMag #8, March 2010, Brussels, BE.
Semple, S.: Five To Watch: The New Art Pack,Who’s Jack, Issue 28, page 57-58, Nov 2009, London, UK.
Brignall, M.: The Fine Art of Investing, Money, The Guardian, 22 August 2009, page 1, London, UK.
Mann, E.: *Semple, Things I’ve Made and Done, page 15, Stuart Semple Industries, March 2009, London, UK.
Russi, G.: London loves all’ Aus 18, Time Out, Max Magazine, March 2009, Milan, IT.
Editor: Prints Are the Way to Go, Own Art Newsletter, England Arts Council, March 2009, UK.
Semple, S.: Art of England, October 2008, Issue 50, pg. 45, UK.
Probosch, A.: Stuart Semple and the Limitless Language of Art, Zoot Spots, Zoot Magazine, Summer 2008, Issue 11, pages 44-45, Lisbon, PT.
Fenn, D.: Reviews Reviews Reviews, Art, i-D Magazine, September 2008, Issue 291, page 286, London, UK.
Turk, G.: Mash-Ups, Art of England Magazine, September 2008, Issue 49, pages 5, 41, London, UK.
Coghlan, N.: Pop Art & Mass Culture, Aesthetica Magazine, August/September 2008, Issue 24, pages 3,30-32 London, UK.
Spero, J.: Mashups Preview,, Who’s Jack, July 2008, page 67, London, UK.
Editor: Mashing it up at DACS, Studio DACS, Summer 2008, Issue 4, page 2, London, UK.
Steffen, M.: Owespanorama, Radio 100.7 FM, Luxembourg, LU, Original Airdate: Monday 17 July 2008, 18.00h.
Chimienti, P.: Pop Art et réaliste à la fois, Le Quotidien, Luxembourg, LU, Thursday 5 June 2008, Culture, page 43.
Editor: Les dernières créations de Nathan James, Luxemburger Wort, Luxembourg, LU, Friday 6 June 2008, La vie culturelle, page 15.
Semple, S.: Art of England, June 2008, Issue 46, pg. 42, UK.
Arts Editor: The Guardian, The Guide, March 8-14 2008, pg. 38, London, UK.
Jaye, M.: Bethnal Scene, Arena Magazine, January 2008, page 47, London, UK.
Arts Editor: Frieze Magazine, October 2007, Issue 110, pg 178, London, UK.
Cimatti, G.: Jeunes et talentueux, Le Quotidien, Luxembourg, LU, Saturday 21 July 2007, Culture, pages 1, 37 et 39.
Becker, N.: Plein feu sur la jeune création, Luxemburger Wort, Luxembourg, LU, Thursday 19 July 2007, La vie culturelle, pages 13 et 16.
Boff, A.: stimuleight, East Eight, June 2007, London, UK.
Arts Editor: Time Out London, No. 1918, pg. 44, London, UK, 2007.
Boff, A.: stimuleight, East Eight, May 2007, London, UK.
Smith, R.:through the eyes of…, Ukula Magazine, London, UK, 2007, volume 3, number 2.
“Whose Design Is It Anyway?”, Global Television, Toronto, Original Air Date: 8 May 2005.
Woolf, S.:Exclusive Antipoda Interview, AntiPoda, Sydney, Australia, 2005.
Vargas, M.:As I Was Saying, No Friends, San Diego, 2005, volume 1, issue 2.
“Art and Soul”, ZeD, CBC Television, Original Air Date: 11 January 2005.
Krogh, J.: Want More?, Terminus 1525, Toronto, 2004, Vol. 1, issue 1.
“Efficiency 2″, Toronto [living], Rogers Television, 25 October 2004.
Editor: Anti Poda, Desktop Magazine, Australia, Issue 195, 2004.
Terauds, J .: What’s On, Toronto Star, Toronto, Thursday, March 11th 2004.
Balzer, D.: Eye Candy, Eye Magazine, Toronto, 2004, volume 13, issue 22.
Arts Editor: MIX Gallery Section, Mix Magazine, Toronto, Spring 2004, pg.34-35, V29.4.
Hirshmann, T.: High Quality Quartet, Now Magazine, Toronto, 2004, volume 23, No. 18.
Hirshmann, T.: Best of Toronto, Now Magazine, Toronto, 2004, volume 23, No. 9.
Hirshmann, T.: Group Grope, Now Magazine, Toronto, 2004, volume 23, No. 8.
Kostabi, M.: Inside the Mall Art World, Artnet Magazine, September 30th 2003.