The Legacy of James Dupree: A Visionary Artist's Journey - 'I Am the Man I Always Wanted to Be'

Encountering Dupree

James Dupree stands at the open doors of one of his two contemporary fine art galleries. This one is his namesake, Dupree Gallery, which has been open since the 1980s. A hidden lure about the gallery and James himself draws people in, leaving conversations hanging in the balance to hear what wisdom Dupree will bestow on his audience this time.

James Dupree, born in 1950, has been a practicing artist in Philadelphia for over five decades. With exhibitions and residencies of national and international scope, Dupree has created a legacy within the world of Fine Arts and Culture. With more than thirty-five different series of work under his belt, Dupree’s techniques include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, murals, and mixed media. However, he is no stranger to experimentation and constantly explores new mediums. Dupree is looking to new horizons to expand his already extensive repertoire of exhibits and awards. We at Duvu had the pleasure of sitting down with the notable artist to discuss life, art, and the pursuit of happiness. 

“I have always been the art kid.”

“Well, you know 74’ is a long way back'’, chuckled Dupree. “But I have always been the art kid.”  It was evident that art had been ingrained in Dupree from a young age, shaping his identity and aspirations. “I go back to second grade and just remember Mrs. Zipco giving me that extra bit of special attention. She said, 'You could be a famous artist one day,’ and I never deviated from that.” Dupree seemed to find a way to make art no matter where he was. He recalls always writing and drawing on walls or anything he could get his hands on as a child. “My family would come home to drawings on the table, the walls, the refrigerator, anything I could make a mark on, I did.” Dupree recalls having a photographic memory from an early age: “When I see someone’s face, I tend to never forget it.” When speaking of influences on his work and what resonates with him as an artist from the very beginning till today, Dupree cites sound and color. He experiences chromesthesia, a type of synesthesia that causes people to see colors, shapes, or movement when they hear certain sounds. This way of seeing the world has allowed Dupree to blur the boundaries between painting, collage, printmaking, and mixed media. 

By fifth Grade, James's attraction to the arts led him to attend Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1898, Fleisher Art Memorial is one of the country’s oldest nonprofit community art schools and is committed to advancing the vision of its founder, Samuel S. Fleisher, who believed that art is one of society’s greatest assets and equalizers, and from the doorway of his Graphic Sketch Club, “invited the world to come and learn art.” Fleisher’s mission is to make art accessible to everyone, regardless of economic means, background, or artistic experience. The community there holds a heavy significance for James, not only because this is where he flourished as a young artist, winning chalks and pastels for the work he produced, but because later in life, he became the first African American male to teach there.

While Dupree flourished in the arts, his home life was less than perfect. “The last time my stepfather put his hands on me, I was 13. I was a bad kid. I was a little kid but had a lot of fights,” Dupree explained. Due to shifting dynamics at home, James went to live with his grandparents in Pittsburgh. He was leaving an all-black inner city community and moving to an all-white suburban one. “In the inner city, I was smart and got straight As - the problems were at home. Outside of home, everyone loved me. But now, at an all-white school, I was dealing with bullies.” Dupree suffered through detention one too many times at this school, but to his luck, the room where detention was held was Mr. Paul O’Harry’s classroom, better known as the art room. This teacher’s impact on Dupree is clear. “He’d say, ‘Dupree, what are you doing here?’ He seemed to always want me to do better. I spent most detentions working on art pieces with him.” 

Dupree says that he started winning art awards in ninth grade, and by tenth grade, many of the art teachers already knew who he was. By the time Dupree graduated in 1968, he, along with the help of another art teacher, Mr. Robinson, received a full undergraduate scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. There, Dupree studied fine art, including painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. Solely focused on art, which allowed him to flourish even more as an artist. 

Read the full article inside Volume II.

James Dupre in Vol II (2024)

Order Vol II