Biography
Marlon James was born in 1980 in Kingston, Jamaica and is currently based in The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, which includes group exhibitions at The National Gallery of Jamaica, Punkt Ø / Galleri F15 (Norway) Gallery of Mississauga (Canada), The IDB Cultural Center (D.C.), Art Museum of Americas (D.C.), Bargehouse (London), Aliceyard (Trinidad). He has also been published in Small Axe: A Caribbean Art Jornal41, Pictures from Paradise, Jamaica Art: Then and Now and ARC Magazine Issue 4. He received his BFA from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2003.
Statement
Beyond searching for beauty in the mundane, I have and I will always be interested in and intrigued by the human form. My choice to document black and brown people in their own natural environment came about after my group exhibition in Jamaica; Young Talent V 2010. My go-to portrait style at the time was quite minimal, as I would photograph individuals against a stark white wall. I generally felt in the beginning that environmental portraits would distract from the person - I still do to a degree - but as time went by, I wanted to showcase elements of the Caribbean organically. So I looked into striking a balance with the environment and using dramatic lighting to place focus on the subject.
Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibition:
Marlon James: Intimate Encounters / March 23, 2013 / NLS, Jamaica
Group Exhibition:
Jamaica Biennial 2022: Pressure, National Gallery of Jamaica
The Photography Show / February 2020 / Y Art Gallery, Trinidad
Jamaican Spiritual July 2017, St. Stephen Walbrook, London
Jamaica Biennial 2012 / 2014 / 2016, National Gallery of Jamaica
Jamaican Routes exhibition / Punkt Ø Galleri F15 2016, Norway
FLOAT exhibition TRANSFORMER Museum / June 2014, Washington D.C
Contemporary Jamaican Art Exhibit Circa 1962 - 2012 / Gallery of Mississauga 2012, Canada
Wrestling with Image 2011(Art Museum of the Americas), Washington D.C.
About Change- Contemporary Jamaican Artist / IDB Cultural Center 2011, Washington D.C
Shot in Kingston 2010(Alice Yard), Trinidad
Young Talent V May 4, 2010, National Gallery of Jamaica
Featured
Marlon James Puts Masculinity Under Pressure : Trinidad & Tobago Newsday, June 2022
Marlon James - An Unedited Approach to Photography Weekend Smile TVJ, May 2022
Photographer Marlon James set to apply ‘pressure’ with a raw, unedited pictorial showcase The Gleaner, May 2022
Marlon James – Taking a Shot at Life The Extraordinary People, April 2017
An Impression of Marlon James' 'King Yellowman' Prudence Lovell, February 2015
On Marlon James: In Search of Identity Mark Lyndersay, June 2014
Metro Magazine // Marlon James Brings His Creativity to T&T Ceola Belix, March 2014
Marlon James: Shutterbug with a unique eye The Gleaner, August 2010
Publication
Archives No.2 : Au Courant
Stranger's Guide : King Yellowman
Marie Claire : Why Black Women in a Predominately Black Culture Are Still Bleaching Their Skin
Picture from Paradise: A Survey of Contemporary Caribbean Photography 2012(book) Robert and Christopher, Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaica Art: Then and Now 2011(book) LMH, Jamaica
Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism Issue 41 / 2013(book), Duke University, New York