Maurice James Jr

Maurice James Jr. is a self taught Contemporary Artist and Graphic Designer. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Maurice now lives and works in Washington, DC.

The work of Maurice seeks to intertwine iconic American Pop Culture references with powerful Black images to positively promote Black Love, Black Beauty and Black Power.  Maurice’s work focuses on portraying the strength and brilliance of Black People as well as embodying the importance of Black representation in mainstream history and culture.  Growing up as a young man in the Wynnefield section of West Philadelphia, he collected comic books, baseball cards and watched films that, while considered classics, did not prominently feature Black People in the heroic role. 

Using digital graphics and merging genres that have not traditionally been combined to recreate well known pop-culture moments, Maurice’s art answers questions such as “How could Black folklore integrate into American culture?”, or “What if Black artistic genius was hailed in the light of deity?”.  His work strives to create a glimpse of a reality in which Black People and Black Culture are Promoted Properly.

“Among some of the organized methods used to control the world is the thing known and called PROPAGANDA. Propaganda has done more to defeat the good intentions of races and nations than even open warfare. Propaganda is a method or medium used by organized peoples to convert others against their will. We of the Negro race are suffering more than any other race in the world from propaganda... propaganda to destroy our hopes, our ambitions and our confidence in self.”

- Marcus Garvey