It's hard to imagine a first-grader challenging his classmates to drawing contests to see who can draw the best motorcycle, but this scene sets the stage of James Fleeson's youth while giving foresight as to how his future would unfold. Art has always been a part of Fleeson's life, so it only seems fitting that in the years immediately following those innocent childhood contests, and ever since, he has entered his artwork in shows. This lifelong competitive spirit may be part of an underlying force that pushes him to continue developing his art at a high level, wherein he constantly pushes his own boundaries and in turn challenges his personal artistic evolution.

Although he now lives in Lexington, Ohio, James was born just north of Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in Jackson, Michigan where he attended the Jackson Area Career Center for Commercial Art while in high school. He was offered a full five-year scholarship to attend Lawrence Tech for a degree in Architecture but left after just one year to pursue a greater passion—a career in Computer Science, which eventually led him to the DC area.

Despite the shifts in his career paths, Fleeson has always created art and in many mediums including pencil, pastels, and watercolor, but it wasn't until 11 years ago that he decided he wanted to paint in oil to take advantage of the deep colors it provided. And after two years of researching the science of painting with oil, he did his first painting.

"Today oil is my main medium, and life is my subject," James says. "I like to tell stories with my paintings, to shine a light on everyday scenes that people miss and show the beauty all around us. I once read, 'An artist's job is to document their life.' I hope to live up to that statement by painting what isn't seen."

Written by Benjamin Cominsky

Awards/recognition

• 2026 The Salon Art Prize, July Honorable Mentions Nocturne "Yooper Vacation"
• 2026 Plein Air Magazine Salon, January 1st Place Overall "Dairy Land"
• 2026 Plein Air Magazine Salon, January Finalist - 2 pieces
• 2025 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 2 pieces accepted
• 2025 Plein Air Magazine Salon, April 2025 Best Nocturne "Red Barchetta"
• 2025 Plein Air Magazine Salon, April Finalist - 2 pieces
• 2024 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 2 pieces accepted
• 2023 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 2 pieces accepted
• Member of the Mansfield Art Center Board of Directors
• Instructor at the Mansfield Art Center
• 2022 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 1 piece accepted
• 2021 Plein Air Magazine Salon, December Finalist
• 2021 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 2 pieces accepted
• 2020 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 3 pieces accepted
• 2018 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 3 pieces accepted, Award of Excellence
• 2017 Mansfield Art Center May Show - 3 pieces accepted, Honorable Mention Award

Past Exhibitions

Color of Night

• Mansfield Art Center - REACH Gallery: July 24 - Sept 4, 2020
• Solo exhibit - examines light's invasion of the darkest places and how it illuminates and reflects off everyday street scenes.

Small Town Ohio

• The Phoenix Brewing Company: Nov 2020 - Feb 2021
• Solo exhibit - paintings of Mansfield Ohio.