James Brooks Enter a
feeling, not
a gallery.
Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
James Brooks
Early Life and Education Born: October 18, 1906, St. Louis, Missouri Family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1916 Studied art at Southern Methodist University (1922-1924) Private lessons with James A. Waddell and Martha Simkins in Dallas Moved to New York City in 1926 Studied at the Art Students League under Boardman Robinson and Kimon Nicolaides Worked as a commercial artist to support himself The WPA Years and Early Murals
Active in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project from 1936-1942 Painted three murals for the WPA, demonstrating social realist style. Flight (1940-1942): A significant mural at La Guardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal, depicting the history of aviation. It was the largest WPA mural and later restored after being painted over. Friendships with Jackson Pollock and Philip Guston during this period Abstract E…
