James Hannaham

James Hannaham is a Professor in the Department of Writing at Pratt Institute. He holds a B.A. in Art from Yale University and an M.F.A. in Fiction/Screenwriting from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Austin. His work spans novels, visual art, and performance, addressing themes of identity, race, and social justice. Notable publications include Delicious Foods (winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award) and Pilot Impostor, a multigenre exploration of identity and authority. Hannaham’s visual art critiques systemic racism through satirical signage, such as his 2021 exhibition Jim Crow Hell No.

He has received prestigious awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship and Pushcart Prize. His writing often interweaves personal narrative with societal critique, examining complex issues like modern slavery and impostor syndrome. Beyond academia, Hannaham co-founded the performance group Elevator Repair Service and contributes to literary and cultural criticism.