James G. Pappas

James G. Pappas (born April 20, 1937 in Syracuse, N.Y.) is a visual artist from Buffalo, N.Y. He attended high school in Rochester, N.Y. where he first studied art, which led him to winning scholarships to Rochester Institute of Technology and the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester. He attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. after graduating from high school. His paintings represent a great deal of surrealism and abstract expressionism.
Early life
James G. Pappas was born April 20, 1937 in Syracuse, N.Y. He claims his mother was a big inspiration to practice art. Music has also made a great impact on his life. An aunt and uncle from cleveland were jazz musicians and inspired his love for jazz, a.k.a black classical music, which is what Pappas refers to it as. Jazz music has been a huge inspiration to him for his paintings and drawings. Pappas first study of art was when he attended Madison high school in Rochester.

Along with his growing love for art, he was also an athlete. He played football and ran track, where he won the New York State Championship in the 100 and 200 meter events. Papas attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C on an athletic scholarship. While there, he worked with James Herring, a nationally known artist and author. Along with being in the south as an African American in the 50's, he dealt with segregation. It caused him to explore the socio-political realities of living in America. He eventually moved back to Buffalo, where he completed his undergraduate and graduate years at the State University of New York at Buffalo Albright Art school. In 1974, Pappas got his master degree in fine arts in painting.
Career Life
In 1967, James G. Pappas took a position as a parole officer with the State Department of Corrections. In 1974, he cofounded the Langston Hughes Center for the Visual and Performing Arts with Allie Anderson, Clarence Scott, and Wilhelmena Godfrey. In later years, Pappas taught art and black studies at the University of Buffalo and still presently teaches there. In 1977, he became chair of the latter for the next 13 years. He also became head master of Black Mountain College II, which offered art programs for students in SUNY Buffalo.

James G. Pappas makes surrealism and abstract expressionism paintings. He works fast so that the paint can have a natural flow to it. His work has a chaotic feel, but there are also geometric shapes at times. His work has been in over 50 exhibits all over the state of New York and even a few in foreign countries, including Canada, France, West Germany, and Denmark. In 2013, the Burchfield Penney Art Center pronounced him a "Living legacy."

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