About
Cody James is a New York–based contemporary artist exploring the tension between control and instinct through line, repetition, and portraiture.
Working primarily in ballpoint pen and mixed media, his pieces merge structured geometry with raw, expressive mark-making. Layers of line build depth and movement, revealing subjects that feel both fragmented and intensely present. Each work captures a moment of exploration — a study of emotion, identity, and human energy.
Rather than creating tightly themed collections, James releases work in evolving studio groupings — snapshots of what he is investigating in real time. Originals are one-of-a-kind. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
His practice moves fluidly between small-scale drawings and large-scale murals, carrying the same obsessive attention to detail across formats. The work lives at the intersection of precision and chaos — where structure gives way to expression.
Original paintings and limited edition prints are available through this site. Custom commissions are accepted on a limited basis each year.
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