Thomas F. James (b. Washington, DC, 1994) is a curator and cultural worker based in Baltimore, MD. Taking a critical-creative approach to exhibition-making, his practice has been described as 'one that blends the visionary with the quotidian'. Grounded in an interest in curatorial practice as a tool for experimental critical discourse, James focuses on translating expansive ideas through storytelling, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and embodied, participatory forms of cultural production. His work seeks to create approachable yet rigorous engagements that foster intentional reflection, meaning-making, and collective learning as pathways to intellectual exchange and community building.

Informed by a belief that curatorial presentations can facilitate accessible forms of thought leadership, James develops cultural engagements that explore historical narratives, reimagine contemporary social structures, and propose new possibilities for the future. Beyond exhibition-making, his practice spans formats such as residencies and retreats for creatives, symposia and film festivals, and community-centered gatherings including object-sharing events and block parties.

He holds an MA in Culture, Criticism, and Curation from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and a BS in Business Administration from Frostburg State University, with additional training in curatorial studies at the Unschool of Curating (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) and in arts leadership at the New Art School Modality.

James has curated exhibitions at institutions including the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, and The Phillips Collection. He has held leadership roles including Inaugural Executive Director of The Last Resort Artists Retreat, Director of Visual Arts at Creative Alliance (Baltimore, MD), and Chair of Exhibitions at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center.

His professional experience also includes residencies and fellowships at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Maison Saint Joseph (Crépey-en-Valois, France), and In Situ Polyculture Commons; service as a juror for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fellowship Award, Washington Project for the Arts’ Wherewithal Grants, and the Charlotte Street Foundation’s Rocket Grants; and collaborative projects with organizations such as Vans Shoes’ Foot the Bill Initiative, Kaiser Permanente’s #Thrive Campaign, and the Maryland State Arts Council’s Arts Incubator Working Group. He has additionally contributed to and developed programming for international thought-leadership platforms including Salzburg Global Seminar, TransCultural Exchange, and PRIZM Art Fair. 

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