Thomas F. James (b. Washington, DC, 1994) is a curator and cultural worker based in Baltimore, MD. His practice has been described as “one that blends the visionary with the quotidian” (BmoreArt, 2024) and communicates ideas through exhibitions and programming focused on storytelling and accessible thought-leadership.

By creating cultural engagements that explore histories, reimagine current societal structures, and inspire new possibilities for the future, he aims to connect deeply with audiences of all backgrounds. His work seeks to communicate grander concepts while fostering approachable, intellectual conversations and transformative moments.

James has curated numerous exhibitions at institutions including The Phillips Collection (Washington, DC); Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (Arlington, VA); and Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum (Annapolis, MD). He has served as a juror for awards and grants including Untitled Art Fair's Residency Prize (Miami, FL); The Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Mary L. Nohl Fellowship Award (Milwaukee, WI); Washington Project for the Arts' Wherewithal Grants (Washington, DC); and Charlotte Street Foundation's Rocket Grants (Kansas City, MO). He has collaborated on creative projects with organizations including Vans Shoes' Foot the Bill Initiative; Kaiser Permanente's #Thrive Campaign; and B&O Railroad Museum's Street Art Competition. He has participated in and/or created programming for international thought-leadership programs including Salzburg Global Seminar (Salzburg, Austria), PRIZM Art Fair’s Panel Day (Miami, FL), and Lift As You Climb Symposium and Retreat (Baltimore, MD).

James has held positions such as Director of Visual Arts at Creative Alliance (Baltimore, MD) from 2018-2021; Inaugural Executive Director of The Last Resort Artists Retreat (Baltimore, MD) from 2021-2024; Curator-in-Residence at Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum (Annapolis, MD) in 2024; and Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Guest Curator (Baltimore, MD) from 2024-2025. He has also served in numerous volunteer roles including Exhibition Co-Chair at Eubie Blake Cultural Center and an Artist Member of the Maryland State Arts Council's Arts Incubator Work Group, as well as serving on various boards and projects for different sectors of the arts ecosystem. 

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