James Arendt

James Arendt is a Professor of Visual Arts and Director of the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery at Coastal Carolina University. He holds a BFA from Kendall College of Art & Design and an MFA from the University of South Carolina, with expertise in contemporary art practices and their intersection with socio-economic themes.

• M.F.A., University of South Carolina
• B.F.A., Kendall College of Art & Design

His research and artistic practice focuses on understanding labor dynamics, particularly through the lens of post-industrial and agrarian landscapes in America. This work highlights the evolving relationship between human labor, material craft, and economic systems.

Awarded multiple prestigious honors, Arendt’s achievements include:

• First Prize at UNC Ashville’s Biennial Outdoor Sculpture Competition
• South Carolina Arts Commission Visual Artist Fellowship (2014)
• $50,000 top prize at ArtFields (2013)
• Best in Show recognitions at Hub-Bub Gallery and Yeiser Art Center
• 701 CCA Prize (2012)

Arendt actively contributes to the arts community by juried exhibitions nationwide and has participated in residencies such as The Fields Project in Illinois and Arrowmont’s Tactility Forum. His work is held in permanent collections including the Arkansas Art Center.