Bio
James Kelewae aka LUV1 is a New Jersey based Artist best known for his murals and Street Art which can be found across the Garden State and neighboring New York. James has worked and championed the power of public art to transform lives and neighborhoods for almost twenty years. From the very beginning James sought to be a force for positivity and inclusivity. From the subject matter to the locations chosen James sought to uplift the environments of those who needed it most. His work is about gratitude thru hardships and the power of enduring hope and purposeful destiny.
Kelewae is known for his large scale murals such as a 20ft Buddha looking down over Sutherland Bridge or a 15ft hand holding a peace sign up on Perry St in the state’s capitol, created in 2010 and 2011. In 2009 his mural of Cornel West on MLK Blvd was featured in the Academic/Activist/Professor’s Autobiography “Living Out Loud.” In 2017 James collaborated with long time friend and fellow Street Artist LANK in painting the interior of the Downtown Trenton Starbucks Community Store. James was a featured Artist in the Show “On and Off the Streets: Urban Art New Jersey” curated by Lois Stavsky in 2022 at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ.
Known for his illustrative style in portraiture and interlacing bold colorful designs, James draws inspiration from the Celtic art of the monks of Iona and other Arabesque ornamentation, folk art from around the world, the Expressionists of the 20th Century, and many contemporary street and aerosol artists.
James Kelewae was raised in the Mid West and has resided on the East Coast for almost all of his adult life. A graduate of SVA’s Illustration Department and co founder of NJ non profit SAGE Coalition. Some other past clients include Vonage America, Hopewell Valley Arts Council, Center for Contemporary Art, Paul Robeson Center, Downtown Somerville, and Trenton Downtown Association to name a few.
Some places where James’s work has been published include Star Ledger, Trenton Times, Hunterdon County Democrat, Jersey Journal, Princeton Alumni Weekly among many others.
James has exhibited in several group exhibitions under the LUV1 moniker primarily, as well as two solo shows at Galleries 125 and Roebling Wireworks in Trenton NJ.
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Commissioned Murals and Public Art Projects
Morris Museum – Morristown, NJ 2022
Railroad Workers United – Trenton, NJ 2021
Kids R First Preschool – Trenton, NJ 2020
Roebling Wireworks Building Dog Run – Trenton, NJ 2018
Washington’s Crossing – Hopewell Valley Arts Council – 2018
Let’s Sit Together – Flemington, NJ 2018
Study in Interconnectivity – Atlantic City, NJ 2018
Get Juiced Cafe – Sussex, NJ 2017
Starbucks Coffee Co – Trenton, NJ 2017
Vonage World HQ – Holmdel, NJ 2016 2017 2018
Art All Night “Deuling Muralists” – 2015
Downtown Somerville Arts Festival – Somerville, NJ 2015 2016 2017
Vorhees Animal Clinic – Flemington, NJ 2015
Baker’s Treat – Flemington, NJ 2015
Isles “Academy Street Mural” – Trenton, NJ 2014
Amwell Valley Music Festival – Hillsboro, NJ 2014
Princeton Arts Council “Underground Railroad” – Princeton, NJ 2014
Flemington BID “Agway Mural” – Flemington, NJ 2014
Laurita Winery – New Egypt, NJ 2014
Hopewell Valley Arts Council “Stampede” – Hopewell, NJ 2014
Chartis Group “Peace” – Chicago, IL 2014
Perfect Choice Auto – Trenton, NJ 2014
Bushwick Collective – Bushwick, Brooklyn 2012 2013
Highland Park Community Garden – Highland Park, NJ 2013 2014
Trenton Downtown Association – Trenton, NJ 2013
Crisis Ministries – Trenton, NJ 2013
Center for Contemporary Art “Graffiti Bathroom” – 2012
United Methodist Church “Welcoming” – Tenton, NJ 2012
Trenton St. Patricks Day Parade “Artworks Float” – Trenton, NJ 2012
SAGE Coalition “Windows of Soul” – Trenton, NJ 2012 2013 2014 2016
Highland Design Farm “Highland Sfumato” – Hopewell, NJ 2011
Trenton Atlier – Trenton, NJ 2011 2012
Private Residence “Garden of Eden” – Hopewell, NJ 2011
Redd Pen Media “Demia” music video – 2011
Jersey City Mural Arts Project “Big Blue” – Jersey City, NJ 2010
Highland Design Farm “Highland Sentinel” – Hopewell, NJ 2010
Private Residence “Buddha Barn” – Hopewell, NJ 2010
9th Street Community and Youth Center – Chester, PA 2010
TerraCycle Inc. – Trenton, NJ 2008 – 2013
Kids R First Preschools – Trenton, NJ 2010
WePlayCrazy Studios – East Brunswick, NJ 2010
New Jersey State Theater “Hub City Carnival” – New Brunswick, NJ 2009
Yonkers Parks Dept. – Yonkers, NY 2009
NJTL of Trenton – Trenton, NJ 2009
Trenton Downtown Association “South Broad StreetMural” – Trenton, NJ 2009
Edgewood Mural – Washington, DC 2009
Felix Natal Jr. Studio – Passaic, NJ 2008
Exhibitions
On and Off the Streets: Urban Art in New Jersey – Morris Museum – Morristown, NJ 2022
Roebling Wireworks Gallery – Trenton, NJ 2018
Visual Stream Gallery – Lambertville, NJ 2018
Community Arts Center – Media, PA 2018
Mercer County Community College “Art Served Trenton Style”- Lawrenceville, NJ 2016
Prince Street Gallery “Art Served Trenton Style” – New York, NY 2015
Little Skips “CANvas” – Brooklyn, NY 2014
Momentum Art Supply “Cantankerous” – Chicago, IL 2014
Low Brow Art Boutique “Art for Tots” – Brooklyn, NY 2013
Gallery 219 – Trenton, NJ 2011, 2012, 2013 2014
Liberty Village Outlets “Flemington Fest” – Flemington, NJ 2013
Center for Contemporary Art “Off the Wall” – Bedminster, NJ 2013 2014
Nurture Nature Center “Recycled Garden” “Riverside Arts Fest” – Easton, PA
Red Eye Cafe “Cafe Series” – Monclair, NJ 2012
Art All Night – Trenton, NJ 2012 2013 2014
Riverfront Renaissance Art Center “Outside/In” – Millville, NJ 2012
Center for Contemporary Art Satellite Gallery – Bedminster, NJ 2012
Green Room “Occupy the Arts 2” – Harrison, NJ 2012
Center for Contemporary Art “Anti Gala” – Bedminster, NJ 2011
State Theater of New Jersey “Urban Arts Festival” – New Brunswick, NJ 2011
TerraCycle “Found Object Art Show” – Trenton, NJ 2011
Community Arts Center “Last Fridays” “Bob Dylan Tribute” – Wallingford, PA 2011, 2014
Center for Contemporary Art “Factory Art Party” – Bedminster, NJ 2010
Jersey City City Hall “Raw Power”- Jersey City, NJ 2010
National Museum of Hip Hop “Congressional Black Caucus” – Washington, DC 2010
CoLab – New Brunswick NJ 2010
Warren Building “Raw Power” – Jersey City, NJ 2009
Somerset Art Association – Bedminster, NJ 2009
Cafe Ole – Trenton, NJ 2008, 2009
Publications
Hunterdon County Democrat 2014 2015 2016
Human Resources 2014
Trentonian 2011 2013 2014
Surface Area 2013
Verizon TV 2013
Brooklyn Street Art 2012
Street Art NYC – 2012 2013
Montclair Times 2012
Trenton Times 2012 2014
Redbank Patch – 2011
Liquitex YouTube Channel 2011
Utrecht Art Supply Catalog 2011
Jersey City Independent 2011
Jersey Journal 2010
Graphotism 2010
Home Tribune 2009
Trenton Times 2009 2010 2013 2014
Princeton Alumni Weekly 2009
“Brother West” by Cornell West 2009
Mercer Business Magazine 2009
TelevisionNJN News 2009
History Channel 2010
National Geographic 2010
CNN 2010