James Williams II

Statement

My work explores the experiences of childhood, at once personal and universal. I am creating a story set in the United States during the 1930’s, centered on the protagonist Little Rooster, a young energetic boy who lives with his mother and father. It is through his bodyguard, Red Rooster, that he learns how to fulfill the role of a hero.

I connect with the past through imagery inspired by artifacts from popular culture: vintage comic books, their bright color palettes and stylized figures; newspaper advertisements, selling items with distinctly dated promises; and finally, children books, with their lasting moral lessons.

The approach of my work is not to remake vintage elements but to transform them into my own meaningful world. My oil paintings invoke a sense of dramatic intrigue and reveal my appreciation for contemporary figure painting.

I narrate stories that depict personal moments or experiences in my life. It is through my work that I express my thoughts, my desires, my feelings and my fears. My paintings of Little Rooster parallel many scenarios from my life. Despite his longing to remain a child, events force him to confront the burdens of adulthood. An adult often sees the world as gray and monotonous, but a child sees color and endless possibilities.

Michael Gross – Statement

Abstraction