James Thurman
Associate Professor
James Thurman is an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas’ College of Visual Arts & Design, where he coordinates the 3D Core program as well as teaches in the Metalsmithing & Jewelry area. He received his MFA in Metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and his BFA in Sculpture from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2010, he completed a four-year term on the Board of Directors of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and is now currently serving as Editor of Technical Articles for the organization. In 2012, he was a Fulbright Specialist Scholar, working with Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey, on curricular development.
A prolific and highly active studio artist for more than fifteen years, his work has been included in hundreds of national and international curated and juried exhibitions as well as ten solo exhibitions in the past ten years. In addition to the exhibition of his work, James regularly lectures and gives workshops about his work and the unique technical aspects of his studio production, including a laminated composite material he developed, “Thurmanite.” Recent engagements have included The Glass Furnace (Istanbul, Turkey), Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston Glassell School, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and the Yuma Symposium.