James Rees, while maintaining his studio practice, has taught art for over thirty years at the University, College and High School levels. As a practicing artist he has had several residencies and fellowships throughout the United States. He exhibits regularly in Museums and in Galleries throughout the US. He is an Art 21 Educator alumnus and has worked as a mentor teacher for School of the Arts Institute of Chicago’s Teacher’s Institute for Contemporary Art (TICA). He is also an appointed panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. He is passionate in his advocacy for the arts and currently serves on several national advisory boards and state art education committees.
He is a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar and has also received several awards for his teaching most recently most recently as the National Art Educator of the Year from the National Art Education Association. He also currently serves as on the National Art Education Research Commission and has served twice on the National Art Education Association’s Board of Directors.