James Rhodes is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Newcastle NSW who works with photo media, painting, and sculpture. In 2022, Rhodes earned a Ph.D. that examined the meaning of materiality in photographic practice. Currently, he is a lecturer in Photography at The University of Newcastle and a teacher at Newcastle Art School. Rhodes has held a position on the board at Newcastle Art Space while working on the art installation teams at Newcastle Art Gallery, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, and Gosford Regional Art Gallery.
Rhodes' studio practice primarily explores the material possibilities of photo media. While his work is deeply rooted in the language of photography, he leverages the material aspects to enhance his concepts. Rhodes achieves his artistic vision by hand-colouring silver gelatin prints depicting scenes from his childhood and the Australian landscape. Complementing his photographic pieces are abstract sculptures that further enrich the themes of his wall-based works.
He has been a finalist in many art prizes including the Waverley Art Prize (2024), Gosford Art Prize (2023/2024), Muswellbrook Art Prize (2022), and Kings School Art Prize (2021). He holds solo exhibitions yearly in Galleries such as PhotoAccess in Canberra (2024), Straitjacket Art Space in Newcastle (2023), and the University of Newcastle Gallery (2021).
