James fell in love with art at the age of six and hasn't looked back since. He is now an art historian at the University of Cambridge, a curator, an award-winning broadcaster and the author of bestselling book The World According to Colour.
James Fox is a Cambridge art historian, writer, public speaker, curator and award-winning, BAFTA-nominated, broadcaster.
James fell in love with art at the age of six and hasn't looked back since. The first person in his family to go to university, he graduated with a starred first in History of Art at the University of Cambridge in 2004.
After completing an MPhil and PhD in the subject, as well as stints at Harvard and Yale, James took up a Fellowship in Cambridge in 2011. He specialises in modern art, British art, and the cultural history of colour.
He is currently Director of Studies in History of Art at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Director of Education at the Jeffrey Rubinoff Sculpture Park in Canada, and President of the Friends of the Stanley Spencer Gallery.
Convinced of art's huge social importance, James works with museums, schools, charities and the media to engage broader audiences in this most life-enhancing of subjects.
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Dr. James Fox
Great artists are often described as geniuses. But what is artistic genius and would we know it if we saw it? Where does artistic creativity come from? From God, from imagination, or from hard work?
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Dr. James Fox
Artists have always been early adopters of new technologies, but in recent years new technologies have appeared more quickly than ever before. Should we be excited about these dramatic changes, or worried?
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Dr. James Fox
Many artists have tried to re-shape society, using art as a tool for propaganda and protest, to bring about social change, and to improve people’s lives. But can art really make a difference? And where would we be without it?
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Dr. James Fox
Why are some artists famous and others forgotten? Why are some artworks priceless and others worthless? And in an era where so much art is so hard to fathom, how do we know whether a work of art is any good?
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Dr. James Fox
Art is an essential part of what it means to be human. But what is art? When did we start creating it? And why do we still need it?
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Dr. James Fox
Humans have always speculated about what a perfect world might look like, whether as a reward in the afterlife, part of an origin story like the Garden of Eden, or a real place on Earth. How do we see these ideas play out in the art we create?
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Dr. James Fox
The last 150 years has brought about the greatest revolution there's ever been in colour. How have we ended up living in a hyper-coloured world?
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Dr. James Fox
The colour white has been associated with purity for millennia in religious iconography, architecture and art. But has it come to represent something darker too?
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Dr. James Fox
Until relatively recently in human history, there wasn't a word meaning "blue". Of the ancient cultures, only the Egyptians had a word for this colour. What was everyone else seeing?
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Dr. James Fox
Colour is an experience: the colours we see and what they mean to us will differ for every human on the planet. What can art history, science, anthropology, literature and politics teach us about colour?
Lorna
Great to watch another talk by James, inspiring and I learnt a lot as always!
For the talk:
Why do some cultures have no word for blue?
Julia
Thank you for yet another illuminating, fascinating and educational talk!
For the talk:
Does artistic genius exist?
EJ
Thank you for a brilliant talk. You have given me so much to think about. Can't wait for the next talk.
For the talk:
What is art?
Jen
Very much enjoyed the talk. You raised some interesting points and I found your “when” rather than “what” quite a compelling idea.
For the talk:
What is art?
Julia
Thank you, Dr Fox, for an entertaining, thought-provoking and highly informative talk. So many ideas to process and ponder. Can't wait for the next meeting!
For the talk:
What is art?
Maggie
Thank you, and The Garden, for bringing my love of art history back to life with these interactive talks. I look forward to the next one.
For the talk:
What is art?
Andy
Thank you for another clearly presented and stimulating talk. Rather than being an academic exercise, your talk had practical criteria to apply to artworks to determine their value. This should help me appreciate art more fully.
For the talk:
What makes an artwork good?
Paula
Thank you James for a refreshing & riveting waltz through a dense subject. Looking forward to next week already .
For the talk:
What makes an artwork good?
Mary
Thank you for another fascinating discussion, Dr. Fox. Such a pleasure to be able to hear your thoughts and to have this interaction with you. I look forward to the next garden session. A big thank you to One Garden for making this event!
For the talk:
What makes an artwork good?
Sara
Thank you, Dr Fox! Another excellent talk. Thank you especially for being so generous, honest, and frank with the Q&A portion of the lecture. SSW
For the talk:
What makes an artwork good?
Vanessa
An absolutely brilliant Garden talk! It’s great to hear such your perspective and has given me lots of food for thought 💭 Thank you Dr Fox! 🦊 😃
For the talk:
What makes an artwork good?
Alicia
Dr Fox is a superb professor. The easiness of explaining complex concepts that he displays is mind-blowing. Thank you for also including the vast array of examples, from different times and cultures!
For the talk:
Can art change society?
Joy
A huge fan! And very much enjoying this series. The language is very "accessible"....thought provoking....interesting illustrations which make me want to follow them up. Many thanks.
For the talk:
Can art change society?
Maggie
Thank you for this talk, and for answering my question on propoganda. I find the history and propaganda of the 1st and 2nd world wars interesting, so now I need to go find this alerted movie you mentioned. Quite thought provoking.
For the talk:
Can art change society?
Paula
Wow! So much information…thank you for not leaving me behind on that journey. Wouldn’t have missed for the world.
For the talk:
How is technology changing art?
Andy
I enjoyed your clear analysis of how digital technology is changing art and what it may mean for art in the future. A stimulating talk as ever. Thank you.
For the talk:
How is technology changing art?
Gavin
Always so interesting and an unprejudiced take on all the arguments. Thank you again!
For the talk:
How is technology changing art?
Julia
Thank you, again, for such an illuminating, informative and lovely talk! Lovely? Yes! The only way I can sum up the combination of your warmth, your ability to convey ideas and the charm of your manner :)
For the talk:
How is technology changing art?
Matt H
Another fabulous talk from Dr Fox! Art history just became accessible.
For the talk:
Why do we think white means pure?
Lorna
Great as always! James always brings such an interesting viewpoint and knows exactly how to captivate
For the talk:
How has modern science transformed colour?
Rachel
Really good, extremely intelligent and very interesting, just wish it lasted longer as I could listen to Fox's knowledge forever.
For the talk:
How do artists depict paradise?
Gavin
James' talks are nicely balanced and enthusiastic, and he is so knowledgeable that he can readily respond to the questions with further detail and elboration. Thank you!
For the talk:
How do artists depict paradise?
Margaret
Thank you, Dr Fox, for another engrossing & fun talk. Your enthusiasm & knowledge make these talks a real pleasure to watch. I feel the impetus to go away and find out more. Thank you for tweeting about The Garden and introducing me to this amazing place.
For the talk:
How do artists depict paradise?
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