Portrait: Bio, CV, Statement
STATEMENT
My work is an assemblage observations, influences, and ideas- whether it is painting or sculpture. For the past forty years, I have had to contend with the bifurcation between the two. I see no difference between them since they are derived from the same sources. The work simply becomes a brief record of action, improvisation, intent, combined with the constant impulse to build or construct in two or three-dimensional space.
As I create, I try not to concern myself with what the artwork is. My concerns extend to its context, the time and space in which it exists, and how it will be created through a process of trial and error which leads to evolution rather than finality.
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, James Jared Taylor has been living and working in Southern California since 1988. For most of his career, he has been both a practicing artist and educator. His artwork is represented in several galleries and is included in various public, private, and corporate collections. He has won various awards including a New Jersey State Arts Council Individual Fellowship and several jury awards. He was a resident at the ACI Artists and Writers Residency in Corciano, Umbria, Italy in July 2022.
After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1981 from the Kansas City Art Institute, Mr. Taylor moved to New Jersey to join the Johnson Atelier as an apprentice and later as staff member working in foundry and metal fabrication. He also attended the New York Studio School as a mobility student in 1980. While living in New Jersey, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Rutgers University- Mason Gross School of the Arts in 1986.
Taylor studied under many artists including, Peter Agostini, Dale Eldred, William Tucker, Stanley Lewis, Willem Volkersz, Leon Golub, Isaac Witkin, John Goodyear, Gary Keuhn, and Herk Van Tongeren. In the 1980’s, he cast and fabricated projects for Toshiko Takaezu, Michael Graves, Joel Shapiro, Julian Schnabel, Melvin Kendrick, George Segal, Arthur Schade, Judson Nelson, J. Seward Johnson Jr., Phoebe Adams, Beverley Pepper, and Herk Van Tongeren.
Although primarily trained as a sculptor, Taylor has created artwork in several media, which include bronze casting, fabricated steel, painting, and printmaking. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is in collections worldwide.
Currently, Taylor is developing a series of abstract paintings, “Improvistory Notations,” that stem from his earlier work, “The Meseta Sequence.” They incorporate elements of architecture and “built space” based off drawings and observations. His sculpture is rooted in his experiences in foundry and metal fabrication. The current sculptures, “Reified Reconstructions” draw upon his observations and re-interpretation of work by the Russian Constrctuctivist, El Lizzitsky, the Bauhaus, and the DeStijl and Neo-Concrete Movements. The “Orbits” and “Constellation” sculptures are visual interpretations of compositions by the late Wayne Shorter. Taylor practiced some “deep listening” of Shorter’s music during the Covid shutdown.
Taylor was an art educator for thirty-two years in California. He was an adjunct professor of art education at California State University-San Bernardino. He taught sculpture and art history at the College of the Desert. In 1999, he was the founding art department chair at Desert Hot Springs High School.
From 1993 to 1998, Taylor was a member of the Palms Springs Public Arts Commission. He helped co-author the Interactive Community Arts Project which teamed individuals, residents, and youth with artists of national and international recognition to design and execute public works of art in various media, including public murals, sculpture, and other forms of visual expression. The artists selected supervised and served as role models and career guides for youth involved in public arts projects.
He was the recipient of a Bravo Award in 2004 for Excellence in Art Teaching. In 1994, he also received an Anderson Children’s Foundation Grant to establish a printmaking program at Mt. San Jacinto Continuation High School, an alternative high school in Palm Spring Unified School District. The printmaking program was also part of an Exemplary Program Award from the California Continuation Education Association, which he and the school received in 1998. In 2003, he was nominated by his students to be listed in “Who’s Who in American Teaching.”
He taught both two and three dimensional arts, Advanced Placement Art History, and Advanced Placement Studio Art at Chaparral High School in Temecula, California. He served on the Visual and Performing Arts Master Plan task force for Temecula Unified School District. He served as Academic Dean of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Chaparral High School.
In 2004, Taylor was a member of the Scoring Evaluation Team for the California Subject Examination Test (CSET) under the California Department of Education. Taylor has also done work with the California Arts Project implementing content standards and formulating assessments, including a student created sculpture installation as part a project for the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). In 2017, he was a member of the focus group for the revision of the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for the California Department of Education. In March 2017, Taylor visited the People’s Republic of China as part of an educational and cultural exchange with Tower Bridge International. He participated in panel discussions, arts instruction, and participating in various classes with Chinese and American students. Taylor retired from teaching in June 2020.
Mr. Taylor’s other interests include music and the outdoors. For many years, he has practiced guitar, particularly jazz, and he has played in various big bands and smaller jazz groups. Taylor studied classical guitar at the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati (1979) and he studied jazz guitar with Joe Diorio (2000-2001) and Doug MacDonald (2012-2022). He has played with the The Robert Holts Orchestra, The Tim Miller Quartet, The Valley Winds Swing Band, The Ted Herman Orchestra, The Red Apple Orchestra, The Second Hand Jazz Band, the United Swing Band, along with his own groups- Alloy Ensemble and the Perdido Trio. He attended the Stanford Jazz Workshop in 2004 and 2005. When he is not in the studio or playing music, Mr. Taylor and his wife, Brooke, enjoy hiking, surfing, yoga, and skiing. During the summer of 2012, he walked the entire 804 kilometer (500 mile) French Route of the Camino De Santiago in Northern Spain. Taylor and his wife reside in the California desert.
Taylor’s work is represented by ArtPic in Los Angeles, CA; Boom Contemporary, and Embrace Creatives.
“Squares, circles, and lines overlay in rich, muted colors, filled with atmosphere. There is a sense of volume in Mr. Taylor’s work that gives them enormous scale. Even the small paintings seem massive.”
Owen Finsden
Cincinnati Enquirer
May 11, 1997
“He is a meditative artist who communicates with idealized, abstracted forms. His geometric abstractions read like graphic parables. Although Taylor’s work contains a lyrical quality, it avoids illustration. It seem to develop its according to the logic of architectural design.”
Jean McKig
The Desert Sun
February 8, 1998
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Rutgers University- Mason Gross School of the Arts, 1986.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Kansas City Art Institute, 1981.
New York Studio School, 1980.
Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1976-1977.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
“Improvisations, Reconstructions, Relative Actions,” Coachella Valley Art Center, Indio, CA, October, 2022.
“Paintings from the Dakota Sequence,” Joshua Tree Public Library, January-March, 2017.
“Intermodulation Project,” Lifework Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, January, 2013.
Continuum Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, January 2009.
Hayes-George Gallery, Charlotte, NC, March-April, 2006.
Arte Gallery, Palm Desert, CA, March, 2003.
Gallery Blu, Palm Desert, CA March, 2001.
800 Wilshire Building, Los Angeles, CA, Fall, 1998.
Gallery Blu, Palm Desert, CA, February, 1998.
Ross Watkins Gallery, Palm Desert, CA, April, 1996.
Riverside Arts Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, April, 1992.
Henry Chauncey Center, ETS, Princeton, NJ, January, 1988.
Extension Gallery, Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ, April 1987.
Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, MFA Exhibition, January, 1986.
Johnson Atelier, Princeton, NJ, January, 1983.
Princeton Day School, Outdoor Installation, NJ, Fall, 1982.
TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
“Celebration,” James Taylor and John Branstetter, Desert Art Collection, Palm Desert, CA, December 2003.
“New Paintings”, James Taylor and Heather Becker, Malton Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, Spring 1997.
“Metal and Wood,” James Taylor and Harry Gordon, Extension Gallery, Johnson Atelier, June 1984.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
ACE Exhibition, Artists Center at the Galen, Palm Desert, CA.
Desert Open Studios Tour.
2023
Verstappen Fine Art, Desert Hot Springs, CA.
(Untitled), a group show, Gary Wexler Studio/Gallery, Palm Springs, CA.
2022
Rancho Mirage Festival of the Arts, Rancho Mirage, CA.
Desert Open Studios Artists, Coachella Valley Arts Center, Indio, CA.
Desert Open Studios Tour.
2021
Alumni Exhibition, New York Studio School, New York, NY.
Desert Open Studios Artists, Coachella Valley Arts Center, Indio, CA.
Desert Open Studios Tour.
2017
Lifework Gallery, Pop-Up Show, Palm Springs, CA.
2015
Take 2 Contemporary, Palm Springs, CA.
2014
“Educators Exhibition,” The Art Institute, Santa Monica, CA.
2013
Group Show, Joshua Tree Artists Gallery, Joshua Tree, CA.
Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2012
Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2011
“Contemporary Luminists,” Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, OH.
Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2010
“A Look Inside- a Survey of Artists’ Works,” Sulkin-Secant Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2008
“ArtScape,” Riverside Arts Council, Riverside County Building, Riverside, CA.
“Land and Light IV,” Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
M. Willis Art and Design, Cincinnati, OH.
2007
“Land and Light III,” Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2006
“Small Scale II,” Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
“Land and Light II,” Hayes-George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
“James Taylor, Kathleen Weisman, Allayn Stevens,” The French Collection Gallery, La Quinta, CA.
“Anniversary Exhibition,” Hayes-George Gallery, Charlotte.
“Grand Opening Exhibition,” The French Collection, La Quinta, CA.
2005
“Lagniappe-The Extra or Unexpected Benefit,” Sulkin/Secant Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
“Land and Light,” Hayes-George Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.
2004
Faculty Exhibition CSU-San Bernardino, Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum, San Bernardino, CA, (catalogue).
Arte Gallery, Inaugural Exhibition, Palm Desert, CA.
2002
Elizabeth Edwards Gallery, Nantucket, MA.
Sulkin/Secant Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA.
Spring Exhibition Group Show, Gallery Blu.
2001
Faculty Exhibition, Desert Hot Springs High School.
Season Opening Group Show, Gallery Blu.
Sulkin/Secant Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
2000
“Season Opening,” Gallery Blu, Palm Desert, CA.
1999
“Works for/from the Millenium,” Sulkin/Secant Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA.
101 North Brand Building, (Jillian Coldiron Fine Art), Glendale, CA.
Fall Show, Gallery Blu, Palm Desert, CA.
“Dirt, Land, Earth, Terrain, Terra Firma,” Threshold Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA.
1998
“Art as Gift,” Threshold Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA.
“Appetite for Art,” Benefit Show, Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA.
1997
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Sales and Rental Gallery.
“Small Works,” Susan Street Gallery, Solona Beach, CA.
“Oil Painting…an Open Gate Still,” New York Studio School, curated by Dore Ashton.
“Fall Exhibition,” Gallery Blu, Palm Desert, CA.
“Visual and Inner Landscapes,” Merging One Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1995
“Productive Partners: Sculptural Cross Sections,” Hunterdon Arts Center, Clinton, NJ.
“Atelier Revisited,” Extension Gallery, Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ.
Valerie Miller Gallery, Palm Desert, CA.
1994
“Faculty Exhibition-College of the Desert,” Palm Desert Civic Center, CA.
La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA.
Valerie Miller Gallery, Palm Desert, CA.
1993
“Arts Faculty-College of the Desert,” Edward-Dean Museum, Cherry Valley, CA.
La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA.
Valerie Miller Gallery, Palm Desert, CA.
1992
Spectrum Contemporary Art, Palm Desert, CA.
Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Allstate Plaza, Glendale Regional Arts Council Exhibition, curated by Suzanne Muchnic, Glendale, CA.
1991
“Current Minimalists,” Atlanta Festival of the Arts, curated by Bill Schinsky, (catalogue).
“Faculty Review-College of the Desert,” Riverside Arts Foundation, Palm Springs, CA.
1990
Aerie Sculpture Garden, Palm Desert, CA.
1989
La Quinta Arts Foundation, La Quinta, CA.
California Sculpture Center, College of the Desert, Palm Desert.
1988
“Outdoor Exhibit,” Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ, Summer.
“National Conference on Cast Iron Art,” University of Alabama- Birmingham, (catalogue).
“New Jersey Arts Fellowship Exhibition,” Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ, (catalogue).
1987
“Summerfest,” a memorial exhibition for Herk Van Tongeren, Rutgers University, NJ.
“The Johnson Atelier at the Trenton City Museum-Ellarlsie House,” Trenton, NJ.
1986
“Three Sculptors- Joe Howard, Dave Cann, and Jim Taylor,” Mercer County College.
“Masterworks,” Sculpture from the Johnson Atelier, Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ.
“Sculpture Outdoors,” Fairmount Park, curated by Marsha Moss, Philadelphia, PA.
“Art in Site,” 185 Nassau Building, Princeton, NJ.
“MFA Exhibition,” Voorhees-Zimmerli Art Museum.Rutgers University, (catalogue).
“Approaching 2000,” Somerset College, NJ.
“Site-Complex,” Outdoor Sculpture, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ.
1985
“Wood,” Extension Gallery, Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ, curated by Larry Steele.
“2D/3D, Sculpture and Working Drawings,” Mercer County College, NJ.
“Eyes on Trenton,” Mercer County College, NJ.
“Eyes on Trenton-Outdoor Sculpture in Mill Hill Park,” Trenton, NJ.
“Alumni Exhibition,” New York Studio School, curated by David Reed.
“Mercer County Cultural Heritage Commission,” Juror’s Award, Annette Fabri- juror, (catalogue).
“9 from Rutgers,” Extension Gallery, Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ.
“Site Installation,” Burlington County Memorial Hospital, NJ.
1984
“The Johnson Atelier,” New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ, curated by Ellen Schwartz, (catalogue).
Warner Communications, New York, NY, Spring.
International Sculpture Center, Washington, DC.
1983
Robeson Center Gallery, Rutgers University-Newark, NJ (catalogue).
1982
“Outdoor Sculpture,” Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ.
“Sculpture and Drawings,” Anne Reid Gallery, Princeton Day School, NJ.
“The Johnson Atelier, Shippensburg State University, PA.
1981
“BFA Exhibition,” Kemper Gallery, Kansas City Art Institute.
1979
“Kansas City Regional Council for Higher Education Exhibition,” University of Missouri-Kansas City.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
City of Palm Springs California, “Nines and Elevens,” Demuth Park, Public Arts Collection, CA, 1999.
Cincinnati Country Day School, Cincinnati, OH, 2003.
Wright-Rieman Laboratories, Rutgers University, “Aether Basin,” NJ, 1986.
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Ridgemont Equity Partners, Charlotte, NC.
Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Charlotte, NC.
The Littlejohn Group, Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Michael McGuire, Grant Thornton Accountants and Business Advisors, Charlotte, NC.
Ms. Christine Trainer, CDFM2 Architecture Inc., Kansas City, MO.
Electronic Data Systems, Corporate Management Services, Los Angeles, CA.
Law Offices of Peter B. O’Brien, Los Angeles, CA.
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA.
Dempsey, Squeri, and Sanders, Cleveland, OH.
COMMISSIONS
Children’s Mercy Hospital Development Committee, Kansas City, MO.
The American Academy of Family Physicians, Kansas City, MO.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Fleischmann, Cincinnati, OH.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Brougham, Sydney, Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherry Scherotter, Palm Springs, CA.
J.B. Were and Sons, New York, NY.
Mr. and Mrs. David Grigg, New York, NY.
Ms. Jill Snyder, New York, NY.
Mr. Jonathan Clark, Melbourne, Australia.
Anne and Robert Monroe, Seattle, WA.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Gittinger, Indian Wells, CA.
Daiker-Howard, New York, NY.
Fruchtlander Brothers, New York, NY
Elders Finance, New York, NY.
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Mr. Russell Rhodes, New York, NY.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bernstein, Bellevue, WA.
Ms. Toshiko Takaezu, Quakertown, NJ.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lewis, Rancho Mirage, CA.
Dr. Lawrence Higgins, New York, NY.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zalznick, Greenwich, CT.
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Benn, London, GBR.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gordon, Lambertville, NJ.
Mr. Jim Fleig, Dana Point, CA.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Weisman, Indian Wells, CA.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Tauben, Ladue, MO.
Mr. Dana Stewart, Lambertville, NJ.
Ms. Marcia Broderick, Palm Desert, CA.
Mrs. Joyce Kornblatt, Palm Desert, CA.
Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Closson, Jr., Cincinnati, OH.
Ms. Mary Ann Hamill, Cincinnati, OH.
Mr. Jerome Gildar, Princeton, NJ.
Jessica Taylor, Knoxville, TN.
Mr. Steven Sobcyck, Cathedral City, CA.
Dr. and Mrs. Niel Eisner, Cincinnati, OH.
Meghan and Doug Rachford, Coldspring, KY.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Penrose Russell, Cincinnati, OH.
Mr. and Mrs. David Crafts, Cincinnati, OH.
Molly and Murry Campbell, Rancho Mirage, CA.
Mr. Alan Levinson, Palm Desert, CA.
Dr. David Schmidt, Westlake Village, CA.
Patricia and Michael Brill, Los Angeles, CA.
Carol and Kenneth Zelden, Los Angeles, CA.
Kym Swanson, Lincoln, NE.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Zesser, Highland Park, IL.
Joyce and Ralph Grunauer, Beverly Hills, CA.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lustbader, Chicago, IL.
John and Shirley Godfrey, Palm Desert, CA.
Mr. Patrick Nipp, Palm Springs, CA.
Harry and Linda Fath, Cincinnati, OH and Indian Wells, CA.
Mr. Stephen Novinson, Birmingham, MI.
Ms. Luzma Brayton, Los Angeles, CA.
Mr. Mark Oliff, Los Angeles, CA.
Mr. Jim Cutler, Lake Oswego, OR.
Lorraine and Michael Lippmann, Potomac, MD.
William and Karen Klempner, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Kenneth Sayles, Palm Springs, CA.
James and Katherine Lau, Los Altos Hills, CA.
Wally and Katrina Barkley, Seattle, WA.
Mr. Richard Valliere, Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Mr. Stephen Smith, Corona Del Mar, CA.
Mary Lou Turpin, La Quinta, CA.
Mr. Gary Cohen, Palm Springs, CA.
Mr. Edward O’Gilvie, Sacramento, CA.
Peter and Rochelle A’Hearn, Palm Springs, CA.
Stephen and Renate A’Hearn, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom DiMare, La Quinta, CA.
Karen and Simon Clark, South Pasadena, CA.
Mr. Fred Smith, Las Vegas, NV.
Ms. Linda Teal, La Quinta, CA.
Alex and Susan McCallister, Charlotte, NC.
Kamie Rudisill, Gastonia, NC.
Chapman Radcliff, West Hollywood, CA.
Josh and Staci Stevens, Desert Hot Springs, CA.
Charles and Annette Keeter, Joplin, MO.
Cris and Judy Coplye, North Easton, MA.
Harold and Dorothy Smith, Charlotte, NC.
Alex and Susan McAlister, Charlotte, NC.
Trip and Laura Park, Charlotte, Nc.
Katherine and S. Henry Dimlich, Daniels WV.
Todd and Amy Creager, Santa Ana, CA.
Ljiljana Grubisic and Michael Whalen, Santa Monica, CA.
Betsy Joyner,Charlotte,NC.
Eliza and Ted Drummond, Eugene, OR.
Amy Mitchell Cherry and Jason Cherry, Hastings, MI.
Diana Shay-Diehl, Yucca Valley, CA.
Charlie and Bonnie Schwartz, Los Angeles, CA and Joshua Tree, CA.
Mike and Ann Spratt, Waiheke Island, New Zealand.
Mr. Charles Goetz, Cincinnati, OH.
Mrs. Nancy Robinson, Cincinnati, OH.
Drs. Charles Mesh and Dianne Litwin Mesh, Cincinnati, OH.
Tim and Michelle Selnick, Cincinnati, OH.
Sarah Mitchell Buller, Cincinnati, OH.
Mr. Brent Winn, Richmond, VA.
Ms. Deborah Brock, Desert Hot Springs, CA.
Ms. Judith Webb, Laguna Niguel, CA.
Mr. and Mrs. Jan Christopher Breunig, Bammental, Germany.
Richard K. Pate Architecture, Sebastopol, CA.
Leni and Fred Morante, Hamilton, NJ.
Rev. T. Conrad Selnick, Skokie, IL.
TEACHING POSITIONS
Chaparral High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District, Teacher and Academic Dean- Visual Arts, 2006-2020.
California State University-San Bernardino, Adjunct Professor, 1993 to 2006.
Desert Hot Springs High School, Palm Springs Unified School District, Fine Arts Chair, 1999-2006.
Mt. San Jacinto Continuation High School, Palm Springs Unified School District, Arts Chair, 1994-1999.
College of the Desert, Palm Desert, California, Adjunct Professor, 1988-1997.
Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ, instructional staff- metal fabrications, 1981-1988.
Rutgers University, graduate teaching assistant-sculpture and foundry, 1984-1986.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Individual Fellowship, 1985.
Juror’s Award, Mercer County Cultural Heritage Commission, Mercer County College, NJ, 1985.
Johnson Atelier Foundation Grant, 1982.
RESIDENCIES
ACI Artists and Writers Residency, Corciano, Umbria, Italy, July 2022.
Visiting Artist, Sand Foundry Workshop, CSU-San Bernardino, April 1992.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Studio Visit Magazine
Shout-Out SoCal
San Diego Voyager
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Desert Living Magazine
The Desert Sun
The Los Angeles Times “Desert View”
The Princeton Packet “Time Off”
The Trenton Times
The Newark Star-Ledger
Cincinnati Community Publications
RECENT PRESS AND LINKS
The Desert Sun. https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2022/10/02/dhs-artist-brings-minimalist-exhibition-coachella-valley-art-center/8073839001/
Shout-Out SoCal. https://shoutoutsocal.com/meet-james-jared-taylor-sculptor-and-painter/
San Diego Voyager. http://sdvoyager.com/interview/conversations-with-james-jared-taylor/.
Instagram: jamesjaredtaylorarts