Exhibition & Licensing
Installation view — Bout Dat Life Collection
Bout Dat Life Studio — Michael James
Bout Dat Life Studio is the painting practice of Michael James — Jamaican-Dominican American narrative figuration at the intersection of ancestral memory, spiritual presence, and material innovation. Rooted in both Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino traditions, the work carries two worlds on every canvas: the island rhythms of Jamaica, the color and spirit of the Dominican Republic, and the ancestral memory that runs through both.
Each large-scale canvas exists in two states: in light, figures emerge through layered acrylic, atmospheric spray, and raised textural relief. In darkness, embedded photoluminescent pigment reveals a second painting — the ancestors, present. This dual-state system is without precedent across a body of large-scale figurative work. It is not a technique. It is a theology.
Works from the collection are available for private acquisition, gallery representation, institutional exhibition, hospitality and hotel art programs, corporate collection placement, editorial licensing, brand collaborations, and commercial campaigns. All inquiries are handled directly with the artist.
Selected Series Available
Ancestors Chat Series — Saturday Night Soul
Rhythm Series — Her Rhythm, His Beat
Cityscape Series — Uptown Soul, Midtown Soul, Downtown Soul
Exhibition Inquiries
Selected works are available for solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, curated institutional programming, and gallery representation. To inquire about exhibiting work from the Bout Dat Life collection, please complete the form below.
Licensing Inquiries
Works from the Bout Dat Life collection are available for licensing across editorial publications, commercial campaigns, brand collaborations, interior and hospitality installations, hotel art programs, corporate collection placement, and product and packaging design. To inquire about licensing, please complete the form below.