James Kimak: Painting Light

Artist Statement

From my start as an inker at Marvel Comics to work as a newspaper designer and illustrator, to an Art Director in the early years of interactive media at NBC and CNBC, to the creator/designer of murals for large health and education institutions, I have always been active as an exhibiting fine artist.

In 2019, I shifted from my previous focus on pastels to larger pieces in acrylic on canvas. From a gallery statement, “Through the use of vibrant hues and strong light/shadow contrasts, he skillfully captures the interplay between light and form in his paintings. Drawing inspiration from such renowned artists as Edward Hopper, Degas, and Fairfield Porter, among others, his works suggest a hint of abstraction along with its explicit realism.  ‘Something catches my eye when I’m not actively seeking a subject. Often, these subjects have a strong structural shape at their core.’ While his paintings are based on specific locations that evoke a distinct sense of place, he also brings his own imagination into the compositions, often omitting or altering details to align with his vision.”

Since 2005, I have also used my graphic and photography skills—often including images of my fine art—in the creation of narrative murals for such clients as Columbia University, Montefiore Hospital, NYU Langone Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospitals, among others.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Bridgeport. I have participated in numerous exhibitions in galleries in New York and New England, and in museums, including Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, the Parrish Art Museum, and the American Museum of Illustration, winning a number of awards, including Gold Medals, along the way. My newest honor is the inclusion of a projected image of my painting, Man with Tattoo, Havana, in a dance and choral stage performance, PORTRAITS, at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center (6/2024)

Following my first solo show at the Edward Hopper House in 1993, I became a founding member of the Flywheel Gallery in Piermont, NY. Afterwards, I was represented by the Allen Sheppard Gallery in New York City, where I held several solo shows. I have also shown at Carrie Haddad in Hudson, NY, Edgewater Gallery in Middlebury, VT, the Jessie Edwards Gallery on Block Island, RI, Ned Kelly & Company in Tappan, NY and Perry Lawson Fine Art in Nyack, NY.

I live and work in Rockland County, NY. 

Follow James on Instagram: @kimakart

Visit James’ website: www.jameskimakfineart.com