James Erickson’s paintings explore the dignity of the human figure and the poetry of the ordinary, and he finds inspirations from direct encounters with the people and places of his immediate surroundings. His paintings explore the space between realism and abstraction, and often evoke  the ephemeral and enduring qualities of nature.

James earned his BA at The University of Virginia while running varsity track and cross country. He received several honors and awards at UVA including The Aunspaugh Fifth-Year Art Fellowship. In 2011, James earned his MFA at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and now exhibits his work throughout the east coast. James currently serves as chair of the visual arts department at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia.