About
Janell James creates artwork that moves fluidly between representation and abstraction. Her practice includes layered acrylic glass paintings of trees and wildflowers, as well as abstract works in paint and mixed media. Though the materials and subjects evolve, a distinctive visual language connects the work—one that explores light, depth, atmosphere, and the emotional resonance of place.
Working directly with collectors, James accepts a limited number of commissions each year. These highly personalized works often incorporate wildflowers native to a family property, treasured heirloom vessels, and textiles associated with loved ones or significant life events. Through her unique layered process, these elements are transformed into enduring expressions of memory, place, and connection.
Her paintings are held in private collections throughout the United States and internationally.
Artist Biography
Born and raised in Utah, Janell James received classical training at the Bay Area Classical Artists Atelier in California and Studio Escalier in Paris. While grounded in traditional techniques, her practice continually evolves through experimentation with contemporary materials and processes.
Utah's landscapes have profoundly shaped James' artistic vision. Through years spent hiking, camping, and exploring the outdoors, she has developed an intimate relationship with the natural world. The shifting seasons, changing light, and atmospheric qualities of the Western landscape continue to inform her work.
James' artwork has been exhibited in museums throughout the Western United States, including a ten-year retrospective at the Woodbury Art Museum. Her work has been featured in Western Art & Architecture and recognized by Fine Art Connoisseur as one of its "Five to Watch." Her paintings are held in private collections nationally and internationally.
Artist Statement
ARTIST STATEMENT
Janell James explores the relationship between light, material, and perception through a multidisciplinary practice spanning painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Drawing upon classical training while embracing contemporary materials, she reinterprets traditional approaches through innovative processes.
Her signature layered acrylic glass paintings are created by applying multiple painted surfaces to transparent panels, producing luminous works that shift with changing light and reveal new visual relationships as viewers move through space. Shadows, reflections, and transparency become active components of the work, dissolving the boundaries between image, object, and environment.
James is interested in the ways experience shapes perception—how atmosphere, memory, and the passage of time influence our understanding of the world around us. Whether working representationally or abstractly, she creates immersive visual experiences that invite contemplation, discovery, and renewed engagement with the act of seeing.
Oakley, UT with my girl Roxy (2005-2019)
Reviews
“Janell James’ pieces must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. They are mesmerizing, vibrant and sophisticated.”
“I have always admired and collected Janell’s unique multi-pane art. When I learned that she was going to apply portraiture to the unique style she has developed, I instantly knew that she was the artist commission I had been searching for to capture my two daughters. I wanted something that exemplified their youth and life, while at the same time — wanting a piece of art that stood on its own, the kind of portrait that could be collected, even if you weren’t personally attached to the subjects. The work that Janell produced exceeded my expectations in every way, and is a testament to her artistic talent. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!”
“Janell’s creative drive and passion to paint and to create the highest quality artwork are admirable. She studies continually and paints masterfully in a style she has uniquely developed as her own. Her paintings are recognizable at a distance because of their unique quality and subject. Her trees make you feel like a child again, lying on the ground and gazing up toward the sky, looking at the leaves and delicate branches. These paintings often contain surprising vibrant colors that give them vitality and interest.”
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