artist bio

James Polisky is an award-winning Rhode Island based artist and graphic designer whose work blends original drawings and designs with a color separation background, resulting in limited edition or one of a kind hand printed silkscreen. His practice is rooted in traditional screen printing techniques while engaging contemporary themes through illustration and design.

Primarily character driven, his imagery employs humor and satire to explore a wide range of emotional and social viewpoints, from quiet contentment and existential uncertainty to political tension and everyday absurdities. Beneath the accessible, often playful surface of his work lies a deeper reflection on presence, impermanence, and the shared experience of simply being alive. What initially reads as a straightforward cartoon frequently invites extended contemplation.

His work has been shown in The Boston Globe, USA Today, Art New England, as well numerous independent newspapers / magazines plus a handful of national book covers. James also spent decades as a drummer, both in Brooklyn, NY and New Haven, CT. The bands Overmars (Lightyear Records) and Sons of Bob resulted in endless gigs with endless stories, and once upon an evening opening for The Rolling Stones. And yes, it was awesome.

Always designing promo posters / merch for his bands as well as others, screen printing was a natural step in his creative background post musical career. The working studio, JP Studios Ink is located in a historic mill building in Pawtucket, RI where he can be found hand printing his silkscreen art or designing / color separating wall paper for the residential and commercial wallcovering industry.