Todd James

Todd James (b. 1969) is an American artist whose work bridges street art, contemporary painting, and pop culture. Best known for his colorful, graphic paintings, James fuses his early experience as a graffiti artist with references to art history, domesticity, sexuality, and violence. During his young adulthood, he plastered the New York subway system under the tag REAS, a practice that evolved into the highly recognizable aesthetic seen in his studio work today. His graphic, energetic style often incorporates playful and rebellious touches drawn from his graffiti roots, including bold lines, exaggerated forms, and layered compositions.

Over the years, James has also found success in the commercial realm, designing album covers and graphics for cultural icons such as Iggy Pop and the Beastie Boys. He was introduced to the gallery scene in 2000 through the seminal “Street Market” exhibition at Deitch Projects, alongside Barry McGee and Stephen Powers, which led to his inclusion in the 2001 Venice Biennale and set the stage for his international recognition.

James’ work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions around the world. Notable solo projects featured on CURIN include Near and Dear at Ross+Kramer Gallery (2024), which showcased nine large-scale paintings rendered in oil stick on linen. These works depict intimate interiors in vivid jewel tones, populated by James’ signature iconography such as cats, teapots, and lush foliage, creating meditative, yet psychologically vibrant spaces.

His Soldier of Fortune exhibition at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND in Tokyo (2023) introduced a sculptural centerpiece, Pentagon Pile Up, a bronze work critiquing the military-industrial complex. Other exhibitions, including Beyond the Streets in Shanghai (2023) and Clean Jellybean at Over The Influence, Bangkok (2021), demonstrate James’ versatility across media and themes, spanning from street-inspired painting to immersive installations. His work often blends humor, critique, and cultural commentary, offering viewers a rich and layered experience that bridges the playful and the profound.

Todd James’ influence stretches from the post-graffiti movement into contemporary art, merging the energy of street culture with studio practice. He has collaborated with artists such as KAWS, Barry McGee, and Espo, and his work has appeared in museums and institutions worldwide, including the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco), the Brooklyn Museum, LA MOCA, and multiple Venice Biennales (2001 and 2015). James’ compositions reflect a deep engagement with mid-century abstraction, Fauvism, CoBrA, and the bold visual language of 1970s graffiti, producing work that is both tactile and visually vibrant.