Clarence James was born January 11, 1991 in Stamford, CT. His family moved to Raleigh,NC within the first year of his life where he lived for 18 years attending high school where he was an honor student and 2 sport letterman. He earned a full scholarship to attend Howard University where he graduated from in 2014. Attending an HBCU was a foundational experience that allowed Clarence to grow and thrive. He started painting upon graduating (2014), creating a brand, philosophy and image and developing a style and aesthetic. He immersed himself in the art world frequenting museums and art shows, art related functions and gatherings. He asserted himself as a street artist and spread viral graffiti in Washington, DC and especially while living in New York City (2016-2018) where he gained a lot of exposure and grew his audience. His graffiti activities represented an effort to challenge the systems that seek to limit and control humanity and he quickly moved from street art to painting on canvas, but retained that sense of art as a means of resistance against a restrictive reality. He says, “My art, this is my protest - freedom is a protest, self esteem is a protest.” Over the years (2014-2022) he would grow his audience through entrepreneurship - art shows, pop-up shops, public murals and collaborations in Washington, DC, New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. He has accomplished art installations with Fendi and Boilerroom TV, art shows in Chelsea, pop-up stores in Williamsburg, the Lower East Side (Eldridge St) and Bushwick (Wilson Ave). He has curated and performed multi-weekend art experiences in The Hamptons and Montauk in collaboration with Surf Lodge and Tinder Select, and painted murals multiple years at Art Basel Miami in Wynwood (Old R/C Cola Factory and Downtown (Macy’s Warehouse). Also Murals in Washington, DC public schools (Savoy Elementary), parks (Althea Tanner Park), prominent neighborhoods (Union Market). His most recent show was a solo show at The National Arts Club in New York City in December 2022, He currently resides in Washington, DC and works from his studio at the historic 52 O Studios.
