Saskatchewan Artist

Ann James

Ann James was born in Hove, Sussex, England, in 1925. She studied art in Sussex at the Brighton School of Art in the 1940s, and moved to Regina in 1946. She studied at the University of Saskatchewan’s Regina Campus during the 1960s, under artists including Arthur McKay, Kenneth Lochhead, Jack Sures, and Ricardo Gómez. James also attended workshops at Emma Lake from 1965-1968, studying with Lawrence Alloway, John Cage, Harold Cohen, Frank Stella, and Donald Judd.

In 1968, James partnered with Jan Hone to establish the Hone-James Studio, a Regina base for workshops and lectures in art. James taught ceramics there and took over full ownership of the studio in 1973.

In 1976, James returned to London, where she now lives. She has taught workshops and led lectures and demonstrations in both Canada and the UK, including ceramics and sculpture courses at the Chelsea College of Art and Design (London).

James' work has been a part of many solo and group exhibitions, and her work is represented in collections including the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Government of Canada, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina), Canada Council Art Bank (Ottawa), Imperial Palace (Tokyo), and Saskatchewan House (London). Of her art, James said in 1974, “... Basically, I feel that my forms and thoughts are what the reality is. We all have our own conceptions, of course. Personally, I don't particularly enjoy life. I'm not worried if I drop dead tomorrow. Because every day that I am living and working I'm doing exactly what I want. I fulfill myself each day within my work and with the thoughts of what's next.”

Ann James has received many awards, including the University of Saskatchewan Travel Grant (1967), and Canada Council grants and bursaries (1968, 1969, 1970, 1973).