James Ehlers
Assistant Professor of Art
Drawing and 2D Design
BIO
James Ehlers was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA. He earned his MFA from the University of Florida and is a certified FEGA (Firearms Engravers Guild of America) Master Engraver. He joined Baylor University in the summer of 2024 to teach Two-Dimensional Design and Drawing. He previously worked at Emporia State University for 16 years where he served as Professor of Engraving Arts, Art Department Chair, and Interim Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Since 2007, he has given numerous engraving workshops at various events including the Frogman’s Printmaking Workshop (South Dakota), IMPACT Printmaking Conferences (Dundee, Scotland and Bristol, England), MAPC (Minnesota), and universities around the country. He has participated in group exhibitions in Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Norway, Romania, The Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, and across the United States.
MFA, University of Florida
MA, Bradley University
BA, McNeese State University
ARTIST STATEMENT
My recent work is a reaction to time and place. Mortality, facing fears, and stress management are the centerpiece of my thoughts. These works are primarily about the experience of attachment to material items or contemplations. This is done through interpretation of the traditional vanitas rendering that has been around for centuries, but with content that is relevant to the 21st century. Emojis, our modern hieroglyphs, are utilized in some of the work to convey the temporality of emotion and to reference disconnect of what is directly in front of us. Honoring presence in the moment, rather than dwelling in past regret, nor anxiety of future.
Professional Work
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