Denmark, James

James Denmark, born in 1936, grew up in a family of southern artists in segregated Winter Haven, Florida. Immersed in art from a young age, he was largely self-taught, with artistic roots deeply ingrained in his family. His education continued at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where he encountered influential figures like art historian Samella Lewis. Later, he pursued a master’s degree at Pratt Institute in New York City, studying under Jacob Lawrence, whose impact on Denmark’s work was profound. Subsequently, Denmark delved into “Collage,” a stylistic experiment that defined his artistic journey for the next half-century.