James Williams II's portfolio

Work samples

Prom King

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 20 x 24 in., 2020
Calm Before

Velcro, oil on panel and canvas, 48 x 60 in, 2019
Rose Garden

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 48 x 72 in., 2023
Animist

Velcro, resin, oil on canvas and panel 38 x 59.5 in, 2022

About James

James Williams II (b. 1982, Upstate New York) is an interdisciplinary artist who creates paintings and sculptures centered on topics of racial constructs, systematic racism, and cultural identity in the United States. His paintings integrate non-traditional materials to create layered reliefs. His most recent solo exhibitions have been with UTA Artist Space, Atlanta, GA; LCVA Museum, Longwood, VA; Langer Over Dickie, Chicago, IL; Resort Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. His work has been included in… more

View James's Resume

Fact, Fiction, and the Black Construct in America

My work uses satire and visual riposte to challenge the ambiguity of the black construct as both an object and personhood. What started as an inquiry about the discursive formation of the black race by my then five-year-old daughter followed my investigation into the subject within American society both past and present. The black construct is complicated, fluid, and unreliable with anthropomorphic qualities. The “truth” of race and complexities is intrinsic to our lives yet as my daughter reminds me daily it's not as complex as we make it. The use of various photographic, technology, and fiber materials blended within the painting is an attempt to find a childlike understanding of the inaccuracies and indecisiveness of racial classifications of Black Americans and the achromatic color they both share.

Red, White, and Blue

Velcro, yarn, oil on canvas and panel, 60 x 72 in, 2023
This Ski Mask is for Hiding Tears

Velcro, yarn, oil on canvas and panel, 20 x 24 in., 2023
How to Completely Disappear

Velcro, resin, yarn, oil on canvas and panel, 72 x 72 in., 2022
Force Majeure

Velcro, oil on panel, led lights, resin, polylactic acid, and plexiglass, 17 x 14 x 14 in., 2023
Victory Lap

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 72 x 60 in., 2023
Zig Zag Ricky

Velcro, oil on panel, led lights, DC motor, watercolor paper, polylactic acid, and plexiglass, 17 x 14 x 14 in., 2022

Click here to see the Painting in motion
Self Care

Velcro, resin, linear cycle actuator and oil on panel, 12 x 16 in., 2021.

Note: the bullet seen on the side moves in a linear motion from the inside of the panel to the outside of the panel.

Click here to see the Painting in motion
Chain Gang

Velcro and oil on panel and canvas, 20 x 24 in., 2019
BLK/M/5’8”/Checkered Sweatshirt/Dark Jeans/Brown Boots or in short Self-Portrait with Checkered Sweatshirt

Oil on panel, LCD screen, HD video, no sound, 1:23 min. (loop) 2017, 16 x 16 1/2 inches

Click here to see the Painting in motion

*This video is capturing the painting and its entirety. The painting has a small, embedded video inside of it.
John the Baptist

Velcro, yarn, oil on canvas and panel, 12 x 12 in., 2019

Life and Relationships

This particular group of works are vignettes that share moments of intimacy and engagements within the black constructs' spaces. The manipulative Velcro and faceless, silhouetted figures, points out that the Black construct is complicated, fluid, and unreliable.

Wilderness of Waves

Velcro, chalkboard, oil on canvas and panel, 72 x 60 in., 2023
Soft Embrace

Velcro, yarn, oil on canvas and panel, 30 x 24 in., 2023
Eve

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 12 x 16 in., 2021
Adam

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 12 x 16 in., 2021
Bae on Vacation

Velcro, oil on panel and canvas, 35 x 49 in., 2019
CP Time (Clock Painting Time)

Velcro, clock parts and oil on panel, 9 in. in diameter, 2019
Trippin'

Velcro, polyactic acid, lightbulb, oil on panel, 41 x 27.5 in., 2022

Note: the basketball images are a lithograph and light up. The brightest point is at the top of the sequence.
School Mascot

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 12in x 12in, 2019
Half Court Check

Velcro, oil on canvas and panel, 24 x 22 in., 2023
Rapunzel

Velcro, oil on panel and canvas, 53 x 36 in., 2023