Frederic James

Frederic James was an American watercolorist and printmaker, associated with the American Regionalist art movement. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, James started life as an architect, studying at the University of Michigan and the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Despite showing skill for the trade, winning a national competition sponsored by MoMA, his heart wasn't set on it. He returned to Kansas City in 1939 to pursue an art career, where, in 1940, he won the Friends of Art Purchase Prize in the Midwestern Artists Exhibition and was subsequently hired to teach watercolor at the Kansas City Art Institute. There, he befriended Thomas Hart Benton, who selected several of his works to be shown at the Associated American Artist (AAA) Gallery in New York City that same November. Despite Benton being fired by the institute in 1941, he and James retained a friendly relationship. James summered at Benton's home in Martha's Vineyard until ultimately purchasing his own summer residence.

James' reputation continued to grow. He won the purchase award at the Mid-America Annual Art Show in 1951, had a solo exhibition at the AAA Gallery in 1952 and had his work shown at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in 1954. After that, James too a step back from the spotlight. He focused his efforts on creating, rather than self-promotion.