Thomas F. James (b. Washington, DC, 1994) is a curator based in Baltimore, MD. The focal aspect of his work is to communicate ideas through exhibitions focusing on storytelling. By approaching his curatorial practice as a narrator, he is able to emphasize the cultural backgrounds and nuances within artists’ works. This is done in the hopes to provide viewers with more context and a holistic scope of what artists are presenting. He finds storytelling imperative to communicating grander concepts that create approachable, intellectual conversations.

 

From 2018-2022 Thomas ran two galleries in Baltimore, MD - Creative Alliance and Eubie Blake Cultural Center. He is now the Executive Director of The Last Resort Artist Retreat, as well as continuing his curatorial practice and serving on various boards and projects for different sectors of the arts ecosystem. 

 

James has guest curated numerous exhibitions at institutions including The Phillips Collection (Washington, DC); Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (Arlington, VA); Band of Vice Gallery (Los Angeles, CA); and Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD). He has been a panelist at institutions including Joshua Johnson Council at Baltimore Museum of Art (Baltimore, MD), Reginald F. Lewis Museum (Baltimore, MD); and University of Maryland Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).  He has served as a guest juror for awards including B&O Railroad Museum's Street Art Competition (Baltimore, MD); Mary L Nohl Fellowship Award (Milwaukee, WI); and Untitled Art Fair Residency Prize (Miami, FL). He has spearheaded special projects with organizations such as Vans, Kaiser Permanente, and Munger, Tolles & Olsen LLP.

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