Jim Jackson: Legacy in Art and Leather

Exhibition Reception: March 12, 5–7 PM

Jim Jackson: Legacy in Art and Leather is a retrospective exhibition celebrating more than four decades of creative work by Wyoming artist James F. Jackson. Featuring paintings, carved and tooled leather, and works that merge both media, the exhibition traces Jackson’s lifelong exploration of form, structure, and visual metaphor.

Jackson’s career defies easy categorization. Trained as a fine artist and rooted in the tradition of Western leather craftsmanship, he has spent his life navigating—and ultimately dissolving—the boundary between fine art and craft. His paintings draw from modernist traditions including Cubism, Expressionism, and Orphism, while his leatherwork reflects mastery of the Sheridan style and a deep respect for Western cultural heritage. In many works, these disciplines converge, as carved leather becomes both surface and structure for painted imagery.

Spanning approximately forty-five years, this retrospective highlights Jackson’s disciplined process, curiosity across cultures, and commitment to artistic integrity. His work is held in collections nationally and internationally, and his influence extends beyond the studio through decades of teaching, demonstrations, and cross-cultural exchange—particularly with leather artists in Japan.

Despite national and international recognition, including a National Heritage Fellowship, Jackson’s work remains grounded in place: the landscapes, traditions, and lived experience of the American West. Legacy in Art and Leather offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of an artist who has consistently pursued creative freedom, technical excellence, and a deeply personal vision.