James Gilmore is an actively exhibiting photo-based American artist working out of Dunsmuir in the southern Cascade Range of the far reaches of northern California.

He made his first successful images on the streets of San Francisco in the 1970s, and continues to exhibit widely today. Gilmore is represented in both private and public collections in the United States, holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art Photography from the University of San Francisco, and received an M.F.A. from the Philadelphia College of Art & Design.

Gilmore is Professor Emeritus, Art at the College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California, where he taught Art History, Photography and Digital Art from 2000-2020. Prior to becoming an art educator, Gilmore worked in various US museums as both a curator and exhibit designer, including the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, the Nevada State Museum, and the Redding Museum of Art & History in California.

Author:
"The Unphotographable" Substack Blog
"The Jefferson Agararian" 2008-2015, Siskiyou County (CA) Art Resource Website

Selected Exhibitions
2024 • “In Absentia" Art Bakery Gallery, Dunsmuir, CA (solo exhibition)
2024 • “Connected: Group Show,” Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, CA
2023 • “Best of 2023” (photo: Oaxaqueño, Barrio de Jalatlaco, Oaxaca, MX) Lenscratch Online Gallery
2022 • “Convergence: A Contemporary Photography Exhibition,” Indianapolis Art Center, IN
2021 • "Water" CobraLily Gallery, Dunsmuir, CA (solo exhibition)
2019 • Art Faculty Exhibition, COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA
2018 • “Twelve: Parallels,” Viewpoint Gallery, Sacramento, CA. Curated by Richard Murai
2016 • “After Dark,” Liberty Arts Gallery, Yreka, CA
2015 • “James Gilmore: Selected Work 2004-2015,” Shasta College Art Gallery, Redding, CA (solo exhibition)
2014 • “Good Dog,” curated by John Harper, Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, CA
2013 • “Me, Myself and I,” curated by David Hilliard, Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco, CA
2013 • West Coast Biennial Art Exhibition, Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, CA. Curated by Scott Shields
2012 • “Twelve: Parallels,” Viewpoint Gallery, Sacramento, CA. Curated by Brian Taylor
2011 • West Coast Biennial Art Exhibition, Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, CA. Curated by Robert Nugent
2011 • “Water,” group exhibition, Sisson Museum, Mt. Shasta, CA
2010 • “Seventy Five Minutes I’ll Never See Again,” Platinum Print Festival, group exhibition, LightBox Gallery, Astoria, OR
2009 • “Gilmore, Kenny, Weathers,” three person show, Liberty Arts Gallery,Yreka, CA
2008 • “Beyond Pinhole,” group exhibition at Raymond Witt Gallery, CSU Sacramento, CA
2008 • “International Artists Collaborative,” Casa Escorza, University of Guadalajara, MX; Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA; Rostel Gallery, Dunsmuir, CA; Empire Gallery, San Jose, CA
2008 • “Under The Influence: Adams & His Legacy,” Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, CA
2008 • “Liberty,” group exhibition at Liberty Arts Gallery, Yreka, CA
2008 • “New Work,” COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA (solo exhibition)
2007 • Annual Art Faculty Exhibition, COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA
2006 • “Snap to Grid,” Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
2006 • Annual Art Faculty Exhibition, COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA
2005 • “Presence,” COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA (solo exhibition)
2004 • Visual Aid Big Deal 2004, San Francisco, CA
2003 • LIFT, A VisualAid Group Exhibition, Auburn, CA
2001 • “Public Hanging,” 1078 Gallery, Chico, CA
2001 • “Twisted Fishes,” Gandy Dancer Gallery, Dunsmuir, CA
2000 • “Day Without Art,” COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA
2000 • “Sean Kenny & James Gilmore,” COS Art Gallery, College of the Siskiyous, CA
2000 • Invitational Auction 2000, PhotoAmericas, Portland, OR
2000 • “Excess Denied,” Group Invitational, 1078 Gallery, Chico, CA
2000 • Visual Aid Big Deal 2000, Herbst International Exhibition Hall, San Francisco, CA
2000 • “James Gilmore: New Work,” Old City Hall Art Center, Redding, CA (solo exhibition)
1999 • Shasta College Art Faculty Exhibition, Shasta College, Redding, CA
1999 • Annual Art Competition, Redding Museum of Art , Redding, CA
1999 • “Spatial,” Group Exhibition, Old City Hall Art Center, Redding, CA
1998 • Shasta College Art Faculty Exhibition, Shasta College, Redding, CA
1997 • Shasta College Art Faculty Exhibition, Shasta College, Redding, CA
1996 • Group Photo Exhibition, Shasta County Arts Council, Redding, CA
1995 • Group Photo Exhibition, Shasta County Arts Council, Redding, CA
1994 • “James Gilmore: Selected Images,” Torri Pratt Gallery, Redding, CA (solo exhibition)
1992 • M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Wolf-Rosenwald Gallery, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1988 • “James Gilmore:Thirty-two Polaroids,” Bannam Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA (solo exhibition)
1988 • Group Show, Carpenter Center for the Arts, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
1986 • “James Gilmore: Images from the Comstock,” Solo show, WNCC Gallery, Carson City, NV (solo exhibition)
1984 • “Art for Life’s Sake,” group exhibition at Marin (CA) Civic Center
1984 • “Emerging Artists: New Work,” Brewery Center for the Arts, Carson City, NV
1980 • “James Gilmore, B.F.A. Exhibition,” 625 Gallery, San Francisco, CA (solo exhibition)

Professional Employment History
2000-2020 • Professor Emeritus, Art Instructor (Art History, Photography and Digital Arts,) College of the Siskiyous, Weed, CA
2002 & 2003 • Guest Instructor, Mount Shasta Photo Workshops, UC Santa Cruz Extension
1996-2000 • Adjunct Art Instructor, Art History/Photography, Shasta College, Redding, CA
1994-99 • Art Curator, Redding Museum of Art, Redding, CA
1992-94 • Chief Curator, Campbell Museum, Campbell, CA
1991 • Contract Exhibit Designer, McPherson Center for the Arts, Santa Cruz, CA
1990-91 • Contract Exhibit Builder, University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
1988-90 • Curatorial Assistant/Exhibit Designer/Mountmaker, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, MA
1982-88 • Staff Photographer/Exhibit Technician, Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV

Education
B.F.A., University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
M.F.A., University of the Arts (nee Philadelphia College of Art), Philadelphia, PA

Grants/Awards
2013 • Grand Prize, West Coast Biennial, Turtle Bay, Redding, CA Juror: Scott Shields, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento
2012 • First Prize, Twelve:Parallels, Viewpoint Gallery, Sacramento, CA Juror: Brian Taylor, Photography Professor, San Jose State University
2011 • First Prize, West Coast Biennial, Turtle Bay, Redding, CA Juror: Bob Nugent, Art Professor, Sonoma State University
2001 • Getty Images Educational Grant, Santa Fe Workshops, NM
2000 • Maars Purchase Award, College of the Siskiyous, CA
1999 • Award, Annual Art Competition, Redding Museum of Art, Redding, CA Juror: Daniel Kasser, Art Professor, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
1998 • Award, Group Photo Exhibition, Shasta County Arts Council, Redding, CA Juror: Joel Slayton, Art Professor, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1996 • Award, Group Photo Exhibition, Shasta County Arts Council, Redding, CA Juror: Ellen Land-Weber, Photography Professor, Humboldt State University
1995 • First Prize, Group Photo Exhibition, Shasta County Arts Council, Redding, CA Juror: Cole Weston, Carmel, CA
1986 • Purchase Award, Northeastern Nevada Museum, Elko, NV

Publications and Periodicals
2022 • Featured Artist, Hotch Potch Literature and Art, Volume 1, Issue 2, Vienna, Austria
2022 • Book cover illustration, “Broken Luggage,” Marco Etheridge, MEF Publications
2019 • “ZZYZX and the Mojave National Preserve,” Douglas Stinson, BLURB Publications
2015 • “James Gilmore at the Shasta College Art Gallery,” Redding Voice, Nov. 9
2013 • “Works from near and far make impression at West Coast Biennial Art Competition,” Redding Record Searchlight, Feb. 28
2013 • “COS Instructor Gilmore Wins West Coast Biennial Grand Prize,” Siskiyou Daily News, Jan. 24
2011 • “It’s a 24-hour news cycle, even here,” Redding Record Searchlight, Feb. 5
2009 • “Gilmore discusses photography project and blog,” Mt. Shasta Herald, July 31
2008 • “James Gilmore turns sabbatical into two shows,” Mt. Shasta Herald, Sept. 24
2005 • “Windows to inner worlds,” Redding Record Searchlight D.A.T.E., April 7
2005 • “Gilmore’s art depicts… human activity,” Mt Shasta Herald, April 6
2004 • “COS Sets Photography Exhibit,” After Five, North State Magazine, April Issue
2001 • PhotoAmericas Auction Catalog, Portland, OR
2000 • “Photographer Explores Man and Nature,” Redding Record Searchlight, April 17
1999 • “James Gilmore: New Work,” After Five, North State Magazine, March Issue
1998 • “Frozen in Silver — The Life and Frontier Photography of P. E. Larson”, Ronald T. Bailey, Ohio University Press (citation)
1990 • The Hall of the North American Indian, exhibit catalogue, Peabody Museum
1989 • Symbols, Peabody Museum Magazine, Spring Issue
1987 • Nevada Magazine, Featured Photographer, December Issue
1985 • Photo credits, Smithsonian Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 11, The Great Basin

Juror/Curator
2018 • Juror, North Valley Art League Photography National Competition, Redding, CA
2018 • Juror, Redwood Camera Club National Photography Competition, Eureka, CA
2005-2017 • Curator, COS Student Photography Show, COS Art Gallery, Weed, CA
2011 • Juror, “Water,” Sisson Museum, Mt. Shasta, CA
2008 • Curator, “BOUNTY!” Photography Exhibition, Liberty Arts,Yreka, CA
2008 • Juror, CSUChico Annual Student Photography Exhibition, Chico, CA
2005 • Curator, “John Harper: Burnt Drawings,” COS Art Gallery, Weed, CA
2004 • Juror, North Valley Art League Photography Competition, Redding, CA
2004 • Curator, “Sean Kenny,” COS Art Gallery, Weed, CA 2002
2004 • Curator, “BA Bayard,” COS Art Gallery, Weed, CA
2004 • Juror, Shasta County Arts Council Annual Art Competition, Redding, CA
2001 • Curator, “faces: Drew Burgess,” COS Art Gallery, Weed, CA
1999 • Member, City of Chico Public Art Selection Commitee, Chico, CA
1999 • Curator, “MoonDial: Jean Gallagher,” Redding Museum of Art, CA
1998 • Curator, “Private Lives: Teen Room Installations,” Redding Museum of Art, CA
1997 • Curator, “George Longfish,” Redding Museum of Art, CA
1997 • Curator, “Crosseyed: John and Leah Harper,” Redding Museum of Art, CA
1995 • Curator, “Familiar to the Moon: Images of Mount Shasta,” Redding Museum of Art, CA
1987 • Co-curator, “Frozen in Silver: The Goldfield Photographs of P.E. Larson,” Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV

Represented Collections
PhotoAmericas, Portland, OR
California State University Fullerton Desert Studies Center, Zzyzx, CA
College of the Siskiyous Permanent Collection, Weed, CA
Casa Escorza, University of Guadalajara, MX
City of Redding Public Art Collection, Redding, CA
Trilogy Architecture and Urban Design Group, Redding, CA
University of the Arts Special Collections, Philadelphia, PA
Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV
Northeastern Nevada Museum, Elko, NV
Private Collections