James Plakovic is a self-taught artist who originated a visual art style in 1990 that he has dubbed MusicArt™, the visual art of musical notation. In addition to several solo exhibitions throughout the Austin area, he has also participated in group shows in Dallas, Fort Worth, Minneapolis and New York City. He is an exhibiting artist represented by the Wild About Music gallery since March 1996.

James initially worked with abstract and surreal themes and images, including portraits and musically themed works. In 1990 he originated MusicArt™ which he defines as the art of combining musical notation to form expressive visual compositions. Several of his MusicArt™ pieces have won awards, including a Merit Award at the Main Street Art Exhibition that was juried by Barry Whistler. Another highlight for James was participation in a group show at Gallery 84 in New York City that was juried by Ivan Karp, a well known New York City art dealer.

James’ artwork has been printed in several publications including Arena magazine, a Compendium of Music and Multimedia, as well as Austin Arts Downtown. He has also been commissioned to create artworks for several art patrons.

James has been a member of The Business Committee For The Arts, where he served on the New Programs subcommittee and an executive committee; Knickerbocker Artist; Texas Fine Arts Association; Dallas Visual Arts Center; and the Austin Visual Arts Association.

James lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Emma. He is also an adjunct psychology professor with several central Texas colleges.
 

BIOGRAPHY

Represented by

Wild About Music Exhibiting Artist. Austin, TX & Santa Monica, CA March 1996 - Present.

Awards

Souperior Accomplishment - 1997 Campbell’s Soup “Art Of Soup” Contest.
Merit Award Selection - Planetary Renaissance International Show Group show. Minneapolis, MN December 1996.
Merit Award Winner - Main Street Art Exhibition Group show. Juror - Barry Whistler. Ft. Worth, TX April-May 1996.
Best of Show; 1st Place, Works on Paper - On My Own Time Citywide Employee Art Exhibition Group show. Austin, TX October 1995.
1st Place, Painting - On My Own Time Citywide Employee Art Exhibition Group show. Austin, TX October 1994.

Exhibitions

The Hoyt Institute Of Fine Arts 16th Annual Hoyt National Art Show Group show. Juror - Meadow. New Castle, PA October 1997.
Fine Arts Institute Of The San Bernadino County Museum 32nd Annual Exhibition Group show. Juror - John Koser. Redlands, CA September-October 1997.
Austin Visual Arts Association Fall Show: Autumn Group show. Austin, TX September-October 1997.
Dallas Visual Arts Center Membership group show. Dallas, TX July-August 1997.
Laughing At The Sun Gallery The Music Show. Austin, TX March 1997.
Gallery 84 National Juried Competition: Works On Paper Exhibition Group show. Juror - Ivan Karp. New York, NY December 1996.
Planetary Renaissance International Show Group show. Minneapolis, MN December 1996.
Austin Diagnostic Clinic Group show. Austin, TX November 1996 - April 1997.
Austin Artist Harvest Group show. Austin, TX October 1996.
Main Street Art Exhibition Group show. Ft. Worth, TX April-May 1996.
Amy’s Ice Cream (Arboretum) Solo exhibition. Austin, TX April 1996.
Saradora’s Coffeehouse Solo exhibition. Round Rock, TX March 1996.
On My Own Time Citywide Employee Art Exhibition Group show. Austin, TX October 1995.
On My Own Time Citywide Employee Art Exhibition Group show. Austin, TX October 1994.
Gallery 451 Group show. Rockford, IL October 1991.
NAMTA Convention Art Show Group show. Boston, MA May 1991.

Publications

Austin Arts Downtown, Vol. 3, #3 DiverseArts Monthly Art And Culture Magazine; March 1997. Artwork published; P.18 - “Portrait Of J.S. Bach”
Arena, Vol. 7, #4 Compendium Of Music and Multimedia; Sept./Oct.1996. Artwork published; P.5 - “MusicArt™ Five: Portrait Of Mozart”
Arena, Vol. 7, #5 Compendium Of Music and Multimedia; Nov./Dec.1996. Artwork published; P.10 - “Gypsy Son & Rainbows”
Elements, Vol. 27 Poetry & Art Journal published by the Western Illinois University English Dept; Spring 1985. Artwork published; P.13 - "Mind's Eye" & P. 35- "Peace"

Memberships

Austin Visual Arts Association 1994 - 2000
Texas Fine Arts Association 1998 - 2000
Austin Film Society , 1999 - 2000
Dallas Visual Art Center 1997, 1999
Knickerbocker Artists 1996, 1997
Business Committee For The Arts; 1994-New programs subcommittee; 1995-Executive committee