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JAMES WILLIAM MOORE - EDUCATOR, ARTIST & AGENT OF DISCUSSION
James William Moore is not only a much-sought after and admired educator, but he is also an international lens-based artist known for his use of camp and kitsch aesthetics to create surreal and thought-provoking cinematic experiences through photography, video, projection mapping, and installations.
Through his work, Moore appropriates politics, American pop culture, and everyday life creating a visual language that is both humorous and deeply meaningful. He has always been drawn to the power of visual storytelling, as seen in his series Tilting at Windmills, Get a Clue, and Portrait of a Teller’s Fortune as he brings his imagination to life by combining fact and fantasy.
To James, appropriation is not a dirty word. To him it is a word that has been much maligned over the years. “However, when we aren’t appropriating cultures, the power of appropriation is limitless, “ said James. “ To be honest, as much as kitsch and camp form the heart of my storytelling art practice, the soul of my artwork is appropriation. Appropriation refers to taking something of someone else’s and making it our own. When I look back over my work, I see a heavy influence coming from artists like Cindy Sherman, René Magritte, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Andy Warhol, and Edward Hopper. Whether it’s a subconscious passion for architecture and mundane of Hopper, the vibrant storytelling with saturated imagery of diCorcia, or the sheer gaudiness of Warhol – I see the influence of these masters on my work. Through my reverent appreciation of these artists, I appropriate their style, subject matter, visual composition, and techniques.”
Moore completed his Master of Fine Art, with a concentration in photography, at San José State University. He has taught photography at SJSU and Gavilan College. He also led a workshop on Adobe Photoshop to assist with the City of San Jose’s Cultural History and Postcard Public Art Project. His work has been seen in group shows, with highlights including: Clang, Clang Clang went the Trolley at Rayko Galleries’ SHOWCASE (2012, San Francisco), Spin Me ‘Round at Pacific Art League’s Carnevale (2010, Palo Alto), Alone with Dino at 1650 Gallery’s Dudes, Bros, & Gentlemen (2016, Los Angeles), Dances at Windmills at JJ&A PopUP Gallery’s Unconventional Urban Ballet (2014, Palm Springs) and selected images from Madame B’s Tarot Readings appearing at FotoNostrum (2023, Barcelona). Moore’s solo show highlights include: 40 at Paragon Restaurant, Carnevale & Kimonos at Read Brown Salon (2016, Palm Springs), Get a Clue at San Jose State University’s Black Gallery (2020), and Madame B’s Tarot Readings at Jo Farb Hernandez Gallery. His public art participation includes Red Obi from the Obon series in the Japantown Mural Project (2013, San Jose) and Judgement from the Madame B’s Tarot Readings series in Expo Metro’s Billboard Art Project (2023, Barcelona).
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By Angela Valente-Romeo
5
22 ratings
James William Moore is not only a much-sought after and admired educator, but he is also an international lens-based artist known for his use of camp and kitsch aesthetics to create surreal and thought-provoking cinematic experiences through photography, video, projection mapping, and installations.
Through his work, Moore appropriates politics, American pop culture, and everyday life creating a visual language that is both humorous and deeply meaningful. He has always been drawn to the power of visual storytelling, as seen in his series Tilting at Windmills, Get a Clue, and Portrait of a Teller’s Fortune as he brings his imagination to life by combining fact and fantasy.
To James, appropriation is not a dirty word. To him it is a word that has been much maligned over the years. “However, when we aren’t appropriating cultures, the power of appropriation is limitless, “ said James. “ To be honest, as much as kitsch and camp form the heart of my storytelling art practice, the soul of my artwork is appropriation. Appropriation refers to taking something of someone else’s and making it our own. When I look back over my work, I see a heavy influence coming from artists like Cindy Sherman, René Magritte, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Andy Warhol, and Edward Hopper. Whether it’s a subconscious passion for architecture and mundane of Hopper, the vibrant storytelling with saturated imagery of diCorcia, or the sheer gaudiness of Warhol – I see the influence of these masters on my work. Through my reverent appreciation of these artists, I appropriate their style, subject matter, visual composition, and techniques.”
Moore completed his Master of Fine Art, with a concentration in photography, at San José State University. He has taught photography at SJSU and Gavilan College. He also led a workshop on Adobe Photoshop to assist with the City of San Jose’s Cultural History and Postcard Public Art Project. His work has been seen in group shows, with highlights including: Clang, Clang Clang went the Trolley at Rayko Galleries’ SHOWCASE (2012, San Francisco), Spin Me ‘Round at Pacific Art League’s Carnevale (2010, Palo Alto), Alone with Dino at 1650 Gallery’s Dudes, Bros, & Gentlemen (2016, Los Angeles), Dances at Windmills at JJ&A PopUP Gallery’s Unconventional Urban Ballet (2014, Palm Springs) and selected images from Madame B’s Tarot Readings appearing at FotoNostrum (2023, Barcelona). Moore’s solo show highlights include: 40 at Paragon Restaurant, Carnevale & Kimonos at Read Brown Salon (2016, Palm Springs), Get a Clue at San Jose State University’s Black Gallery (2020), and Madame B’s Tarot Readings at Jo Farb Hernandez Gallery. His public art participation includes Red Obi from the Obon series in the Japantown Mural Project (2013, San Jose) and Judgement from the Madame B’s Tarot Readings series in Expo Metro’s Billboard Art Project (2023, Barcelona).