Michael James is famous for his strip-pieced quilts, which eventually moved away from a grid
format. He has won numerous corporate and individual commissions, as well as prestigious
awards, including two National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowships. He was
included in the first contemporary art exhibit: “Bed and Board: Quilts and Woodwork,” has had
several solo exhibits, a ten-year retrospective exhibit and has been included in five Quilt
National exhibitions. Two of his quilts, “Aurora” and “Rhythm/Color: Improvisations” were
chosen for The 20th Century’s 100 Best American Quilts. The Renwick Gallery of the
Smithsonian acquired his “Quilt No 250: Rehoboth Meander.” He appears in the book 88
Leaders in the Quilt World Today and in 2001, was named a Fellow of the American Craft
Council.
His formal art training (a B.F.A. from University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth and M.F.A. from
Rochester Institute of Technology) has been a big influence in the interplay of color and space
of his art quilts. In 1992 his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, awarded
him an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Michael credits Honoree Jonathan Holstein with
inspiring his quiltmaking, be exposing him to the classic Amish quilts back in 1974.
He has authored two books on precision work and quilt design: The Quiltmaker’s Handbook: A
Guide to Design and Construction and The Second Quiltmaker’s Handbook: Creative
Approaches to Contemporary Quilt Design.
He is sought out as a lecturer and workshop leader around the globe, especially in France as
he speaks French. He now teaches at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
format. He has won numerous corporate and individual commissions, as well as prestigious
awards, including two National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowships. He was
included in the first contemporary art exhibit: “Bed and Board: Quilts and Woodwork,” has had
several solo exhibits, a ten-year retrospective exhibit and has been included in five Quilt
National exhibitions. Two of his quilts, “Aurora” and “Rhythm/Color: Improvisations” were
chosen for The 20th Century’s 100 Best American Quilts. The Renwick Gallery of the
Smithsonian acquired his “Quilt No 250: Rehoboth Meander.” He appears in the book 88
Leaders in the Quilt World Today and in 2001, was named a Fellow of the American Craft
Council.
His formal art training (a B.F.A. from University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth and M.F.A. from
Rochester Institute of Technology) has been a big influence in the interplay of color and space
of his art quilts. In 1992 his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, awarded
him an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Michael credits Honoree Jonathan Holstein with
inspiring his quiltmaking, be exposing him to the classic Amish quilts back in 1974.
He has authored two books on precision work and quilt design: The Quiltmaker’s Handbook: A
Guide to Design and Construction and The Second Quiltmaker’s Handbook: Creative
Approaches to Contemporary Quilt Design.
He is sought out as a lecturer and workshop leader around the globe, especially in France as
he speaks French. He now teaches at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
| Michael James |
Internationally known contemporary quilt artist, author,
author of The Quiltmaker’s Handbook. Inducted in 1993
at The Quilters Hall of Fame Celebration, Marion, Indiana.
Research Associate: Nancy J. Shamy
author of The Quiltmaker’s Handbook. Inducted in 1993
at The Quilters Hall of Fame Celebration, Marion, Indiana.
Research Associate: Nancy J. Shamy