James Daniel Bishop (October 7, 1927 – February 16, 2021) was an American painter. He completed his education in the United States, before moving to France in 1957 and living there for most of his career. He was granted a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1970.
Early life
Bishop was born in Neosho, Missouri,[2] on October 7, 1927.[3] He was the only child of Otto McMaster Bishop and Faye Lenora Robinson Bishop. The family resided at 327 South Washington Street during his childhood. He attended Neosho High School, graduating in 1945.[4] That same year, he enrolled in Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York,[5] and later obtained his bachelor's degree in journalism.[6]
Bishop's style was tied to the post-World War II tradition of abstract art from both the US and Europe.[11] The artwork he produced was compared to numerous movements like abstract expressionism and Supports/Surfaces, although Bishop called himself "an Abstract Expressionist of the quieter branch".[9] One of the most powerful features of his work was the manner in which it alluded to "frames and methods of presentation", which appeared to call to mind minimalism.[9] He utilized the "nuanced and expressive qualities" of color and scale to great effect, leading John Ashbery to dub his works that employed light as "half architecture, half air".[11]
Bishop lived and worked in Blévy, near Maillebois in rural Eure-et-Loir,[1] until his death.[3] His work was scheduled to be shown at the Musée d'Arts de Nantes starting on February 12, 2021. This was part of an exhibition titled "United States of Abstraction", covering the contribution of Americans to the post-World War II art scene in Paris. However, this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[3] He died on February 16, 2021, at a hospital in Dreux. He was 93.[3][9]