Todd James has a versatility that defies a category, and yet the consistency of the aesthetic is a link that ties his career together. From graffiti roots to character design and now his evolving and revolving fine art that seems to spill through different styles from show to show, is quite significant to the way we look at the possibilities of a post-graffiti career. James has been able to dig deep into war satire, Somali pirates, densely flat still lifes, portraits of woman with cats, and then jump back into late 1980s graffiti in one show, one piece, or sometimes skipped all together for a show or two. It's consistent and fascinating to see his volume and control of his style.
Little Goody Two Shoes, his new solo show at OTI in Paris, is singular and a jump right into James' world; a bit of each era all brought together. As the gallery notes, "Five of the James’ war-themed acrylic works debut a newly emerging style, interpretations of deeply saturated marker drawings in black books, shaded and stippled, bringing a three-dimensional electricity to heretofore two-dimensional figures." That is the key; James has a bit of a legacy to choose from, and yet he brings something original every time he puts on a show. It's uniquely fresh. He's at the top of his game, and it never tires. —Evan Pricco
