This exhibition is a Retrospective Journey spanning over 50 years that brings together a collection of multimedia artworks inspired by the beauty, rhythm, and fragility of the natural world. Through a blend of Silk Paintings, Pastels, Relief Watercolor Monoprints, Oil Paintings, and Ceramic Tile Installations, James Cusmano explores themes of growth, transformation, and humanity’s connection to the environment. Each work invites viewers to reflect on nature not only as a landscape or a flower to observe, but as a living force that shapes memory, emotion, and collective experience.
- Artist Profile: James Cusmano is a Monadnock Region artist working in Pastels, Oils, Watercolor, Printmaking, Textile, Pottery and Ceramic Tile. As a longstanding member of Silk Painters International and a recent inductee into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, his current focus is on vibrant nature themed paintings using transparent liquid French Dyes on white China Silk. He has a degree in Fine Art and Design from Pratt Institute, NY with specialty studies at School of Visual Arts, Manhattan and the Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit, NJ. He has taught silk painting since 1994 at Visual Arts Center of NJ, and at the Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ.
- Past Exhibitions include the Morris County Arts Workshop-Solo, Bernardsville Public Library-Solo, Wilton, CT Library, Washington Square Outdoor, Gracie Mansion Outdoor, Jaffery Civic Center Gala 2025 and JCC Spring Shows 2025 and 2026, Monadnock Art Spring Show 2025 and 2026, Pastel Society of NH 2025.
- Solo Show January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center - Solo Show March 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026
Peterborough Town Library - Jim opened his studio for the 2025 Monadnock Studios Tour in October 2025 and will be participating in the 2026 event as well.
- Jim and his wife owned and operated a successful art and framing gallery for over 10 years. His work is included in numerous corporate and private collections ranging from 6” x 6” to 96” x 192”. He currently lives in Peterborough with his wife Christine.
Artist’s Process for Painting on Silk: My inspiration comes from Nature. My paintings are all unique “One of a Kind” compositions created by applying transparent liquid French Dyes to White China Silk by hand, using a brush. The silk is stretched on a rigid frame and various resists and holding techniques are used to manage the “Flow” of dye across the silk fabric. The finished painting is steamed to permanently set the colors and is re-stretched for framing and presentation.
