Biography

Early Development and Education

James McDemas was born in Newport Beach, Ca in 1965. He was a multidisciplinary artist working primarily as a metal sculptor where he began using found objects for functional use. His self-designed art studio, Art Service of California, (1997-2012), located in Culver City, housed dozens of impressive original furniture designs and innovative art pieces for home and office.

 

His tactile skills, encouraged at Newport Harbor High School (1983 graduate), set the foundation for art career courses at Orange Coast College where he received his AA Degree. He then transferred to Long Beach State University to study Anatomy and Life Drawing, acquiring lifelong skills applied to his many illustrations.

 

James next enrolled at Santa Monica College to begin a 4-year program of Welding Technology with emphasis on Artistic Welding. He studied metal chemistry, learning analysis of precious metals, then significant courses in Jewelry Design. He was also privately taught photography by Edmund Teske who photographed for architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

 

Based on his portfolio only, James was accepted at the new SMC 2-year experimental School of Design Art and Architecture, co-founded by school President Robert Moore and architect Frank Gehry. Taught by renowned sculptor and assemblage artist George Herms and graphic designer Deborah Sussman, several other prominent Los Angeles sculptors also mentored the budding artist. After working at a high level of creativity in several art disciplines, in 1992 James received a Fine Arts Degree in Design and Sculpture. He completed a further year assisting art students and completing several of his own designs.

 

Developing Art Disciplines, Exhibitions and Installations

 

In 1990, SMC President Dr. Moore had purchased James aluminum rocking chair, still sited in the school library. His 3-seat bench sculpture is installed on the grounds of the SMC Performing Arts Center. The school’s new Art Center, currently under construction, will house his large metal and wood bookcase and a framed graphic dedicated to the former experimental design school. Other early furniture designs are in San Francisco and New York galleries and private collections.

 

Early on James developed an interest in creating neon. He assisted the Museum of Neon Art where his iconic ART signs and other works can be seen. Meanwhile, he apprenticed and worked with major Los Angeles galleries such as Ace Gallery with artist Charles Fine and Griffin Contemporary Gallery.

 

James joined prestigious Marmol Radziner + Associates Architects fabricating their designs and restoring metal for Lautner, Neutra and Cliff May residences. He produced an impressive amount of original furniture and accessories for a stellar list of heads of corporations, major business owners and celebrities,

 

including Tom Ford, Brad Pitt and Sony’s Amy Pascal. James was quoted in the Marmol Radziner book “Between Architecture and Construction.” His work can be seen in the March 2007 and July 2009 issues of Architectural Digest and other notable magazines and publications.

 

James was the featured artist in a special exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and as primary artist at the Los Angeles Downtown Art Walk. He participated in many varied art events, speaking often before city councils to preserve and restore historic area signage of which he was an avid collector.

 

His sculpture, The Artist’s Vision, is sited at the Costa Mesa City Hall. The sculpture, Authorized ART, is at the Huntington Beach Art Center. Neon Mary can be seen in the Oncology Lobby at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. His Ben Hur Bookcase and personal archives can be seen at Culver City History Museum. James was a member of MONA, the Los Angeles Conservancy, Culver City Chamber of Commerce and an active member of several area museums.

 

James McDemas Studio