Artist Statement

My work is the intersection of enduring narratives, spanning historical epochs and contemporary realities, where challenges persist without easy resolutions. I employ a method of creating work in substantial quantities with subtle variations, much like conducting an anthropological study. From this diverse cross-section of ideas and collective history, I extract themes that encapsulate human-created dilemmas with no straightforward solutions.

Guided by a profound commitment to exploring the multifaceted territory of sculpture, installation, and drawing, my practice defies conventional boundaries. It incorporates a rich variety of materials and techniques, with a primary focus on fostering socially responsible ideas and stimulating meaningful conversations about pressing issues. My process is rooted in a philosophical sense of responsibility—to myself, my audience, the community, addressing injustice, tending to the environment, and embracing the human experience.

In selecting materials like wood, industrial plastic sheeting, fabric, and plaster, I consider their metaphorical significance. These materials carry inherent connotations of time, aging, rejuvenation, authenticity, and artificiality. My use of labor-intensive hand tools leaves evident marks, and I embrace material imperfections, commemorating the inherent flaws of humanity.

I approach complex and often disheartening subjects, such as sorrow, loneliness, and discomfort, with a blend of humor, humility, and respect. Through witty forms and a light-hearted palette, I make these issues visually accessible. Amidst the challenges of social and racial injustice, political discord, and environmental concerns, I balance these with the potential for compassion, generosity, and goodwill that underscores the complexity of our shared history.

Curriculum vitae

(Download CV - PDF)

James Gilbert

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

Solo Exhibitions

2022

I Don’t Know, You Don’t Know, They Don’t Know, Erin Cluley Gallery, Dallas TX

2018

Vowed to Learn Blood Type After a Near Fatal Nosebleed, PYO Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

2016

A Historic Point of Interest and other Landmarks, PYO Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2015

Sledgehammer.Bullet.Bomb, Manhattan Beach Art Center, Manhattan Beach, CA

No Shame in Them Thar Woods, Woven, West Hollywood, CA

2011

Worker, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia

Worker, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

2010

Warnings & Instructions, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX

2008

The Privacy of Underpants, Part II – PYO Gallery 798, Beijing, China

The Privacy of Underpants – PYO Gallery South, Seoul, South Korea

I Know Everything About You and We Haven’t Met – Light & Sie Gallery, Dallas, TX

(Don’t) Want to be Anonymous?, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Group Exhibitions

2024

The Drawing Show, Sade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Head Space, Vita Gallery, Ventura, CA

2023

Baker’s Dozen, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

Summer, Erin Cluley Gallery, Dallas TX

2022

4Ground Midwest Land Art Biennial, Franconia Sculpture Park, MN

Summer, Erin Cluley Gallery, Dallas TX

2021

Nomad, organized by the Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

2020

Chrysalistas, Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY

2019

A Short Survey of Contemporary Abstraction, Sandy Bennett Gallery, Bergan Center for Performing Arts,  Englewood, NJ

2018

Thrive, Avenue des Arts, Los Angeles, CA

2017

On Bodies, The Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX

A Narrow Passage, Noysky Projects, Los Angeles CA

Plastic Primitive, LeStudio, Paris, France

2016

LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA

2015

Women’s Work: Masculinity and Gender in Contemporary Fiber Arts, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

Moist, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA

2014

UnDressed:An Eposé of Conceptual Garments and Accessories, Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art, Santa Cruz, CA

2013

Acceleration, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas TX

2012

Eye Candy, Couturier Gallery. Los Angeles, CA

Show & Tell: the art of pop culture, Zimmer Childrens’ Museum, Los Angeles, CA

Outfitters: The Contemporary Art of Clothing, Bedford Gallery,Lesher Center for the Arts, Wanut Creek, CA

2011

An Exchange with Sol LeWitt, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA

2010

The Social Graph, Hyperallergic, Brooklyn, NY

Unrealised Potential, Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester, UK

Instructions, Platform4, Aaloborg, Denmark

Transitive Pairings:Body Objects, Centraltrak, University of Texas, Dallas, TX

2009

Manifold: An Exhibition of Editioned Works, The Public Trust, Dallas, TX

Our History, Light & Sie, Dallas, TX

Tigersprung: Obscure Couture in the Now-Time, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX

MOCA Fresh, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA

We Are Here, PYO Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

What’s the Matter with Mommy, The Hangover, curated by Shana nys Damdrot, Phantom Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Heaven and Hell, Christie’s, Beverly Hills, CA

2008

Aqua, Light & Sie, Miami, FL

Gracias a la Vida, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

What’s the Matter With Mommy, curated by Shana nys Dambrot, Salon Oblique, Los Angeles, CA

Gastronomia | erótica y estimulante, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX

Heaven, Christies, Beverly Hills, CA

Los Angeles Art Fair, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2007

Present Art XIV A Small Show of Small Works, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Performances

2013

Acceleration, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX

2010

Privacy is Dead Because We Said So, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, CA

Residencies

2019

University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus

2018

University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus

2012

Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE

2011

Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

2009-10

Centraltrak: The University of Texas at Dallas Artists Residency, Dallas TX

Awards

2022

CERF+ Grant, Montpelier, VT

2021

Center for Cultural Innovation Quick Grant, Los Angeles/San Francisco

2012

Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant, New York, NY

2010

City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Exchange

International Grant

2009

The Danish Arts Council, International Artist Grant

Artist Lectures

2022

I Don’t Know, You Don’t Know, They Don’t Know, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas TX

2015

Sledgehammer.Bullet.Bomb, Manhattan Beach Art Center, CA

2012

Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE

Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Wanut Creek, CA

Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

2011

Worker, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

2010

Sundays With Andy: Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, Modern Art Museum of

Forth Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Warnings & Instructions, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX

2009

Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX

Mount Saint Mary’s, College, Los Angeles, CA

2009

I Know Everything About You and We Haven’t Met , Light & Sie, Dallas, TX

(Don’t) Want to Be Anonymous?, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Selected Bibliography/Press

“Meet James Gilbert,” BoldJourneyMagazine.com, October 17, 2023

Rahmalaroglu, Tolga, “Merger of the Artistic Flux / Interview with James Gilbert”, Luxiders.com, September 19, 2023

Smart, Lauren, “The 10 Must-See Dallas Art Shows This Fall”, DMagazine.com, Arts & Entertainment, November 2, 2022

Moya Ford, Lauren, “Why Are You Drawing Faces Like That?” Hyperalleric.com, November 1, 2022

Sarradet, William, “Synaptic Notes: Recent Exhibitions in Dallas and Houston,” Glasstire.com, October 28, 2022

Smart, Lauren, “You Look Familiar,” Dallas Morning News, October 16, 2022, 3E, p.66

“Meet James Gilbert/Sculptor & Installation Artist” ShoutoutLA.com, August 24, 2020

Bahadur, Tulika, “Natural Disasters, The Destruction of Heritage: Installations by James Gilbert,” OnArtandAesthetics.com, August 30, 2017

“Tweeted, Googled, Inappropriately Touched – James Gilbert, Artist to Watch/Visual Artist,” NakidMagazine.com, June 28, 2016

Goldman, Edward, “Art of War and Peace,” Art Talk, KCRW, kcrw.com, November 25, 2015

Wyszpolski, Bondo, “Protective Devices,” Easy Reader, November 19, 2015, Vol. XLVI-No.16, p.21, 24

Barton, Dave, “OCCCA Get’s ‘Moist'” OC Weekly, June 25, 2015

Solis, Chenoa, “Chenoa Solis Interviews Saatchi Online Artist James Gilbert in LA,”Saatchi Online Magazine, April 1, 2011

Terranova, Charissa, “James Gilbert,” Sculpture Magazine, March 2011, Vol. 30, No. 2, p. 70-71

Michno, Christopher, “James Gilbert and Jennifer Vanderpool,” Artillery, March/April, 2011, Vol. 5 Issue 4

Woods, Wes, “Pitzer College exhibit showcases different themes,” Inland Valley Dailey Bulletin, March 23, 2011

Cuevas, Steven, “Art exhibit at Pitzer College immerses visitors in a virtual sweatshop,” KPCC, www.scpr.org, February 15. 2011

Widdick, Richard, “Worker,” exhibition essay, Lenzner Gallery, Pitzer Art Galleries, January 27–March 25, 2011

Mills, Ted, “Full Exposure,” Santa Barbara Independent, August 27–September 2, 2010, p. 45

Odom, Michael, “James Gilbert,” Artforum, v. XLVII, NO. 10, Summer 2010, p.359-360

Terranova, Charissa, PhD “Orange Alert: Fashion, Frivolity in the Age of Terror” exhibition catalogue, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX

Gleeson, Scott, “James Gilbert: Padding the Walls of the Labyrinth,” www,ovac-ok.org

Terranova, Charissa, PhD “James Gilbert Warnings & Instructions” A+C Magazine, March 2010, p. 26

Simek, Peter “The Modern Problems of the Dallas Contemporary,” D Magazine, March 2010

Arbery, Joan, “Melrose Place for Artists,” D Magazine, February 2010 p. 57-58

Carter, Steve, “The New Iconoclasts,” Dallas Modern Luxury, December 2009 p. 54-58

Nys Dambrot, Shana, Daily Dose Pick: James Gilbert, August 19, 2009, www.flavorwire.com

Terranova, Charissa, PhD “Celebrity Dread: Angst, Fame and the End of Privacy in the Work of James Gilbert,” exhibition catalogue, PYO Gallery South, Seoul, South Korea

Sparling, Gretchen, “High-Style Hideout,” Dallas Child, December 29, 2008

Terranova, Charissa, PhD “Privacy is a Perishable Commodity at Light & Sie,” review, The Dallas Morning News, July 7, 2008, 1E, 4E

Ingram, Kaitlin, “Stalking Art, Gilbert Doesn’t Know Us, But We’re Watching His Work,” Dallas Observer, June 22-28, 2008

Tellez, Lesley, “James Gilbert Talks Art, Underwear,” Quick, The Dallas Morning News, June 11, 2008

Quandri, Stephanie, “James Gilbert: Fashionable Art, “ FrontBurner, Dmagazine.com , June 4, 2008

Sheeler, Jason, “Meet the Artist,” FDluxe, The Dallas Morning News, June 2008, p. 6

Video Interviews

Conforti, Carolina, Art Talk Live with Artist James Gilbert and Gallerist Erin Cluley, “I Don’t Know, You Don’t Know, They Don’t Know.” ArtTalkLive.com, October 8, 2022

Vartarian, Hrag, “James Gilbert On Tweeted, Googled and Inappropriately Touched,” November 23, 2010, Hyperallergic TV, Hyperallergic.com

Mathews, Quin, “James Gilbert, Warnings & Instructions” documentary to accompany Dallas Contemporary Exhibition, February 16 – May 15, 2010

Art this Week, “Dallas Contemporary, James Gilbert,” February 2010, Episode 35, www.artthisweek.com

Radio Interviews

Cuevas, Steven, “Art exhibit at Pitzer College immerses visitors in a virtual sweatshop,” 89.3 KPCC, Southern California Public Radio, www.scpr.org, February 15. 2011

Publications/Catalogues

James Gilbert & Garth Bowden – Plastic Primitive, Limited Edition Coloring Book, Ed.100

James Gilbert – Warnings & Instructions, Dallas Contemporary, exhibition brochure

Heaven and Hell, The Art of Elysium, Los Angeles,

Privacy of Underpants, exhibition catalogue, PYO Gallery South, Seoul, South Korea

Heaven, Celebrating Ten Years of The Art of Elysium, Los Angeles

Public Collections

The Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX

The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, IN