James Dupree facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Dupree
Born	1950 (age 74–75) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Alma mater	Columbus College of Art and Design, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania
Known for	Painting; arts education; activism

James Dupree (born 1950) is an American artist, teacher, and activist. He is known for his colorful paintings and mixed-media art. James Dupree has received many awards and special opportunities to work in different places. One big award he got was the Living Legend Award from the Black Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania.

From 2012 to 2014, James Dupree's art studio in West Philadelphia was almost taken by the city. This was part of a process called eminent domain. But James Dupree fought back, and he won! He was able to keep his studio.

Becoming an Artist

James Dupree was born in 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He spent parts of his childhood in different cities, including Philadelphia. As a kid, he took free art classes at the Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia.

He later earned a full scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design. He got his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there in 1972. After that, he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He also went to the University of Pennsylvania. In 1977, he became one of the first African Americans to get a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

His Amazing Artworks

James Dupree's art has been shown in many places. He has had both group shows and his own solo exhibitions. His art often uses different materials like glass and wood. He is famous for using bright, lively colors in his paintings.

His works are kept in important art collections. These include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. You can also find his art at the National Museum of Art in Wales. Famous people like Patti LaBelle also own his artwork.

James Dupree has also worked with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. He created a beautiful mural to honor the poet and teacher Sonia Sanchez. His mural "Evolving Elements" was even shown at the Philadelphia International Airport.

He also designed sets for the Shooting Stars. This is one of Philadelphia's Mummers Fancy Brigades. The Shooting Stars won first place in 2008 and 2009 using Dupree's sets. They even gave him the nickname "King James"!

Awards and Special Opportunities

James Dupree has earned many awards and fellowships. He has also been an artist-in-residence in several places. This means he got to live and create art in special studios. Some of these places include the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the National Museum of Wales.

In 2010, he received the Living Legend Award. This award came from the Black Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania.

Fighting for His Studio

James Dupree's art studio is in West Philadelphia. In 2005, he bought an old warehouse for $183,000. He spent a lot of money and time fixing it up. He turned it into a place where he could live, teach, and create art. It also holds more than 5,000 of his artworks. Today, the studio is worth much more than he paid for it.

In 2012, the city tried to take his studio using something called eminent domain. This is when the government can take private land for public use. The city wanted to tear down his studio to build a grocery store. They offered him much less money than his studio was worth.

James Dupree decided to fight back. He got help from a group called the Institute for Justice. Many other groups also supported him. They said what the city was doing was "unfair" and "unjust."

Finally, in December 2014, the city changed its mind. They stopped trying to take his studio. James Dupree got to keep his land and his art studio! He said, "I didn't just win. We all won. America wins with this."

A Documentary About His Life

From 2011 to 2014, two filmmakers made a documentary about James Dupree. It was called "Broken Dreams: The Man I Always Wanted to Be." The film shows his art, his life, and his fight against the city. It also includes interviews with people from the neighborhood. The documentary shows how James Dupree won his studio back from the city.