James Williams

James S. Williams has been making art since he copied the cool hot rod t-shirt designs of Stanley Mouse as a teenager. Born in Memphis, Jim grew up in Dallas and studied art and sculpture at Stephen F. Austin State University and North Texas University. In 1972, Jim moved to Austin, joining the counter-culture lifestyle which offered a low cost of living, eclectic array of creatives, and burgeoning music and art scene.

In 1975-76 Jim owned Just Imagine Arts, a gallery on 6th Street where he showed local and Texas artists. Jim continued studying art through workshops on photography and silkscreen printing at Dougherty Cultural Arts Center. A practitioner of martial arts since the early 1960s, Jim has taught tai chi with Four Seasons Tai Chi the past 13 years.

The earliest influence on Jim’s artistic vision was 1950s car design, both European and American. As a teen, he designed his own futuristic model cars. Along with classic automotive design, he draws from a variety of influences including the art work of Franz Kline, Paul Klee, Chilean artist Roberto Matta, and pop icon Tom Wesselmann, as well as Chinese and Japanese calligraphy.

Inspired by his training as a sculptor, Jim has spent his artistic career exploring the a...

Shows: North Texas State University - student groups shows 1969 & 1970
Unicorn Gallery, Austin; Tx – One Man show 1973
2801 Gallery, Austin; Tx – Group show 1974
Just Imagine Art Works, Austin, Tx - Group shows 1974,1975,1976
Ruth Wiseman 2816 Main Street Gallery, Dallas; Tx - Group shows 1981, 1982
National Artist Alliance 80 Washington Square Gallery, New York; N.Y. – Group show 1982
Austin History Center, Austin; Tx - “Austin Seen” Group show 1984
Gallery II, Austin; Tx – Group show 1986
ARTPLEX GALLERY, Austin, Tx – Group show 1997
West Side Studio Tour, Austin; Tx - 2018

In permanent collection of:
Tim Bradford and Tamera Smith OKC, OK
Heather Dalrymple Austin, Tx
Isabel Canette and Walter Moreira Austin, Tx
Robin Bradford Austin,Tx
Charly Scarborough Austin,Tx