James Kaye

Artist James Kaye’s most recent exhibition, “Descriptive Intuition,” opened at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center in March and will be on display until May 1.

The colorful mixed media collection is representative of Kaye’s many talents, with a blend of abstract expressionist artwork that includes textural paintings, sculptures, and wood pieces.

“I always knew art is what I wanted to do. I come from a long line of hands-on creators – cobblers, seamstresses, and my father was in auto advertising. Growing up, there were always art supplies around the house – pencils, rulers, paper and a 1949 Cadillac in the garage,” he explained. “My dad was a huge influence. He taught me about car design, plumbing, woodworking, and electrical. We even restored houses together.”

Kaye was born in Dearborn and grew up in Bloomfield Hills. He currently lives in the distinctive Art Deco “Lone Ranger” house in Huntington Woods. “The universe sent the home to me,” he said. “It’s definitely my father’s style and I found it right after he passed.”

After graduating from Lahser High School, he received an associate degree in welding and art from Oakland Community College followed by a bachelor's degree in arts and crafts from College for Creative Studies. He also became a master welder, fabricator, and designer.

“I liked the combination of auto design plus hot-rodding and fine art,” he said.

Following college, he and his brother, David, formed Detroit Brothers Custom Cycles and the duo worked alongside their father, John, to bring their passion for stylized designed and engineered custom-made motorcycles to life. Their talents garnered industry attention leading to appearances on Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off in 2005, and their own show, Motor City Motors, in 2009-10.

Kaye has moved between Michigan and California several times; the most recent was when he opened Detroit Brothers West, and began focusing on creating fine art. However, he found it financially challenging to work as an artist in California. “I was barely making enough money to survive. I found myself living in a storage unit.”

After suffering a shoulder injury while surfing that required surgery, he returned to Michigan about 12 years ago. “I knew something was missing and figured I needed to expand my art education.”

The mixed media artist attended master's programs at both Cranbrook Academy of Art and College for Creative Studies.

His artwork can be seen throughout the metro Detroit area including Corktown, Huntington Woods and Ferndale as well as a large piece for the exterior of the Daxton Hotel in Birmingham. Most recently, he is the artist behind the newly installed 24-foot tall signature metal sculpture on Maple at Southfield roads. The sculpture, titled Connection, took a year to create in his Detroit studio.

“The sculpture is about connection – mainly connecting the generations. I’ve observed while teaching at CCS that the younger generation is not as hands-on as previous generations,” he described. “It’s made from exhaust tubing which required 300 feet of welding, so you think ‘automotive’ when you see it...Since it’s polished stainless steel, it will forever be as bright, stable, and strong as it is now while taking on and reflecting the ever changing colors around it.”

In 2017 he co-founded, with his mother Gayle, a Detroit-based business called Alpha 6 Corporation that produces professional quality lettering enamels, sign acrylics as well as artist tools and supplies.

He encourages those with artistic aspirations to pursue their passion: "If you believe you’re an artist then DO NOT STOP. I know I’m an artist so there’s no quitting. Everything will get in the way if you let it. Get in the studio or your basement or your sketchbook every single day because if you don’t you will miss out on growth and what’s on your mind each day.”

Story: Tracy Donohue

Photo: Laurie Tennent