Michael James

Ardis James Professor, Textiles, Clothing and Design

"My work in the classroom and in the studio is driven by a quest to answer questions like 'What if?' and 'Why not?'" says textiles artist and world-renowned quilter Michael James. "Creativity in any domain is propelled by curiosity and a willingness to take risks and to challenge conventions. The saying 'You can't discover new lands until you lose sight of the shore' fits my outlook and motivations both as an artist/designer and as an educator."

James is widely credited with helping make the quilt an art form. His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, the American Craft Museum and the International Quilt Study Center at UNL. He also seeks to break new ground in the area of non-traditional quiltmaking, including digitally developed quilt fabrics and their re-constructions.

"Quiltmaking gets dismissed too often... but most of the people I know who make art and make things with their hands do it because they have to do it as much as they have to eat and they have to sleep, they can't not do it, they can't live without it."

Trained as a painter, James turned to the tactile appeal that fabrics and quilts had to offer in the 1970s. His pieced and quilted fabric constructions reflect his formal training, and showcase his studies on American quiltmaking and quiltmaking techniques. James' works have been widely exhibited all over the world. He also lectures and leads workshops on color and design, and has authored many articles and several books on quilting as art.

James is also a popular instructor, teacher and mentor to his students, winning several teaching awards and serving as a faculty mentor in the UNL UCARE program.