Valerie James is an artist and contemporary jeweler originally from Philadelphia, PA. In 2016 she received her BFA in Metals/Jewelry CAD-CAM from Tyler School of Art. She currently resides in Providence, Rhode Island where she intends to complete her MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the Rhode Island School of Design in the spring of 2019. James is the recipient of several awards including the Tiffany and Co. Foundation Scholarship and the SNAG Educational Endowment. Her work is exhibited nationally and most recently was selected as a part of the Marzee Room in the RISD Jewelry and Metalsmithing departmental triennial, Shapeshifters. During her time at RISD James has taught several jewelry courses and currently holds the position of Graduate Assistant in the conservation department at the RISD Museum.

James’ practice is centered around reifying the ritual moments of everyday life in the format of jewelry. Her current body of work is an ongoing series of necklaces in which the meditative act of walking is translated into tangible form. Jewelry is not placed on the body, but brings body into place - tracing the curves and landscapes of our physical existence in the same way our bodies conform to the existing land when walking.