James Ehlers

@jehlers928

Disciplines

Fine ArtPaintingPrintmaking

Lives and Works

76708

About

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, IMPACT Printmaking Conferences (Dundee, Scotland and Bristol, England), MAPC (Minnesota), SGCI (Las Vegas) 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 works are primarily about the experience of attachment to thoughts and material items. I reinterpret traditional vanitas themes with content relevant to the 21st century. Emojis, our modern hieroglyphs, are used in some of the work, to convey the temporality of emotion and reference our digital age disconnect. My goal is to honor presence in the moment, rather than dwelling in past regret or future anxiety.