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Date of this Version
2-3-2026
Document Type
Article
Citation
Transcript, February 3, 2026
Abstract
Prof. Michael James was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in the arts because he earned a bachelor and master of fine arts, both with an emphasis on painting and printmaking. His bachelor’s was from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and his master’s was from the Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduation, he embarked on a 26-year career as an independent studio quilt designer and maker. His career took a new direction in Spring 2000 when he was a Visiting Lecturer in Textiles at his Dartmouth Alma Mater. In Fall 2000, he arrived at the UNL campus as a senior lecturer in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design. He quickly jumped to the tenure-track as a full professor and, soon thereafter, chair of his department. He’s had a remarkable career with dozens of solo exhibitions, with work in over 20 public collections including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery. He retired in 2020 and has begun writing books.
Comments
Copyright 2026, Mark Griep. Used by permission.