About the artist
James Kitchen began welding metal sculptures in the nineties, and has been an ‘artist’ his entire life- finding creative outlets in poetry, rock balancing, stone carving, oil painting, and as a multi-instrumentalist. He has always been fascinated by history and theoretical physics. His art allows him to bring these passions to life; through recycling history left behind as rusted metal, and with that, creating his artistic interpretation of scientific theories of space and time. All of the metal in his sculptures come from local farms, antique stores, auctions, and occasionally a neighbor who leaves a pile of interesting objects in Kitchen's driveway. He allows nature to mature and nature his sculptures into a rust patina and does little else to alter the metal.
“I feel part historian and part ARCHAEOLOGIST,
creating new life”- James Kitchen
Semblance- permanent collection of Springfield Museum of Fine Arts
In 2001, he took his work to his first art show at the William Cullen Bryant Art Fair, where he was awarded first Prize Best of Show. Since then he has exhibited and installed works throughout Western Massachusetts and New England. In 2003, he was a featured exhibit at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, where he’s since returned to exhibit pieces over the years and perform lectures. For the last 12 years, he’s been a consistent participant of the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, where he has won at least one Best of Show award every year he’s attended. Kitchen also was presented with an Award of Excellence from Art in the Park in Worcester for his exhibit in 2009. The city of Springfield installed 100 of his sculptures from 2012-2013; 32 of which were part of a downtown walking tour, and one- a 35-foot high bird was permanently installed at 1350 Main St, bringing a fresh energy to the city. He also has received awards from Governor Duval Patrick and Senator Elisabeth Warren for his public art.
Kitchen has had considerable involvement in Western Massachusetts’ communities and their histories. In 2013, he created piece from wheelchairs & crutches to help Stavros’ mission to promote handicap accessibility. His ‘time machine’ was an on-site attraction to help promote Monte’s Cancer Connection Camp-In held in Northampton in 2017. Part of Springfield, MA history, is the invention of the first pipe wrench; of which Kitchen used over 400 in his sculpture ‘Pipe Wrench’ which is permanently installed downtown. He was also commissioned to create a sundial for Forest Park, using objects referencing Springfield’s industrial and agricultural history. His piece 'A Lifetime' was commissioned and unveiled in 2017 at The Sosin Center for Rehabilitation on the JGS Lifecare campus in Longmeadow; it's intertwining and evolving circles are a comforting reflection for the elders at the center and their families.