Laura James is a Brooklyn-born, Bronx-based painter of Antiguan heritage whose work reimagines sacred and everyday narratives through a distinctly Black lens. Self-taught, she has spent more than three decades blending Ethiopian Christian iconography, African diasporic traditions, and contemporary storytelling to center Black women, families, and communities in vibrant, narrative-rich paintings.

Her collections—from reinterpreted Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Resurrection to her Orishas and American History series—explore spirituality, memory, justice, and joy with bold color and emotional depth.

James is also the founder and Executive Director of BX200: Bronx Visual Artist Directory, supporting and showcasing the work of local artists. As a children’s book illustrator, she brings warmth and representation to stories that uplift Black girls and Caribbean culture.

Widely exhibited, collected, and published, Laura James continues to shape a more inclusive vision of both sacred and contemporary art.