Through the format of jewelry, Valerie James translates the gesture and psychology of traversed spaces. Walking is a way of knowing the body—the subtle movements it makes and how it interacts with surrounding landscapes. Using traditional mark making techniques such as engraving, James conveys these observations, the mobility of jewelry, and the agency it instills both in and out of the studio.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Valerie earned her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2019 and her BFA in 2016 from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Currently, James in the inaugural fellow and resident artist of Intro, a new jewelry gallery based in Amsterdam and supported by Galerie Marzee.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Valerie earned her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2019 and her BFA in 2016 from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Currently, James in the inaugural fellow and resident artist of Intro, a new jewelry gallery based in Amsterdam and supported by Galerie Marzee.
Education
2019 Master of Fine Arts in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Collegiate Teaching in Art & Design Certification
2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Awards & Scholarships
2019 Marzee International Graduate Prize, Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2018 SNAG Educational Endowment Scholarship, Society of North American Goldsmiths, Eugene, OR
2 x 4 Educational Endowment, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Graduate Project Grant Fellowship, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2017 Tiffany and Co. Foundation Scholarship,Tiffany and Co., New York, NY
RISD Graduate Fellowship, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Peggy Kirby Award, Women’s Jewelry Association, Poughkeepsie, NY
Tiffany Rosen Scholarship, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Saul Bell Design Award, “Emerging Artist” Finalist, Rio Grande, Albuquerque, NM
MJSA Education Foundation Scholarship, Providence Jeweler’s Club Foundation, Providence, RI
Selected Exhibitions
2020 Online Quarantine Exhibition, Ornamentum Gallery
The Limit Itself, SNAG: Grit to Gold, Globe Dye Works, Philadelphia, PA (postponed)
As Good as Gold: We Are SNAG Membership Series, SNAG//SPACE, online exhibition (upcoming)
2019 Dream Machine, NYCJW, Abrons Art Center, New York, NY
Intro Inaugural Exhibition, Intro by Galerie Marzee, Amsterdam, NL
Marzee International Graduate Show, Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen, NL
Pop-Up: Line Break, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD
Instants // Intervals, Solo Exhibition, Brooklyn Metal Works, Brooklyn, NY
RISD Graduate Thesis Show, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI
Juried Student Exhibition, SNAG Conference, The Loop: Coming Full Circle, Chicago, IL
Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970, RISD Museum, Providence RI
Drawing Down, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD
Shape Shifters, Jewelry + Metalsmithing Triennial, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI
2018 Souvenir, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2016 Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM Senior Exhibition, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (Student Exhibitor), Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Lamina Jewelry Exhibition and Sale, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Juried Student Exhibition, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Lectures
2019 Instants//Intervals, Brooklyn Metal Works, Brooklyn, NY
Line Break, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD
New England Graduate Media Symposium: Defining Journeys, Emerson College, Boston, MA
Betwixt and Between Course taught by Anne West, Grad Commons, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Guest Critic: Alternative Metals Course taught by Zac Yelnosky, Department of Furniture, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
Professional Experience
2020 Bench Jeweler + CAD Designer, Studio Patina, Amsterdam, NL
2019 Marzee for Starters Fellowship, INTRO Galerie by Marzee, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2019 One Month Artist Residency, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore Maryland
2019 Graduate Assistant: Conservation Department, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
2018 Gallery Assistant, Ornamentum, Hudson, NY
2018 -19 Fine Arts Woodshop Monitor, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2017-18 Graduate Student Liaison, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2015-17 CAD Designer, International Manufacturing CO., Philadelphia, PA
2015 Studio Assistant, Joy Stember Metal Arts, Abington, PA
2014-18 Bench Jeweler, Ilsa Loves Rick, Newtown, PA
Teaching Experience
2019 Teaching Assistant to Noam Elyashiv, Rhode Island School of Design, Department of, Jewelry + Metalsmithing: Junior Jewelry + Metals, Providence, RI, Spring 2019
2019 Instructor of Record, Rhode Island School of Design, Department of Jewelry + Metalsmithing: Subtractive Jewels,Providence, RI, Wintersession
2017 - 18 Instructor of Record, Rhode Island School of Design, Department of Jewelry + Metalsmithing: Jewelry Introduction, Providence, RI, Fall 2017, Wintersession 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2018
2014 - 16 Teaching Assistant to Daniella Kerner, Introduction to Jewelry, Tyler School of Art, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
2019 SO MINT!, Current Obsession, July 2019: https://www.current-obsession.com/so-mint-valerie-james/
Art Jewelry Forum, On Offer Jewelry and Objects, July 2019: https://artjewelryforum.org/on-offer-30
The Gorham Workbench (Film), Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970, RISD Museum, Providence RI