James Mcmillan
Originally from Cronulla Beach, James McMillan is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist with over three decades of experience. Following his father Kenneth's artistic legacy, James began nurturing his art practice from his early teens. After inheriting his father's homemade brushes and oils at the age of 18, he quickly discovered his preference for acrylics, incorporating them into his favored mode of expression along with ink, spray paint, pencil, and oil sticks.
In 2006, following the successful publication of his book "Blue Yonder," James relocated to Byron Bay, establishing a live-in studio in the mountains behind Mullumbimby. During this period, he embarked on his popular Waterbird paintings, featuring large-scale pop-surrealist landscapes, which earned him representation in Retrospect Galleries Australia and The Greenroom Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.
More recently, James has ventured in a new direction, approaching his larger-scale works in a more impulsive, less structured manner, incorporating his unique iconography, symbolism, and stylized fonting. Drawing from personal experiences and curiosities around human conditioning, spirituality, nature, religion, life, and death, this new body of work represents an evolution in the artist's oeuvre, showcasing his growth, artistic exploration, and vulnerability to venture into new painting territory.
Beyond the visual arts, James is the Founder and Creative Director of the Byron Bay Surf Festival (2010). He has completed various major projects, including his book and short film, festival murals, numerous zines, along with commercial work for brands like Dr. Bronner's, Levis, Stone & Wood beer, Surfrider Foundation Australia, Volcom clothing, and Hurley. His paintings and photography have been exhibited in solo and group shows in Sydney, Tokyo, LA, San Francisco, Texas, Hawaii, and Byron Bay.
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 125 x 105 cm $6,600
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 125 x 105 cm $6,600
James McMillam
EXHIBITIONS
(updates coming)
2020: RVCA ANP (painting) Group show
RVCA store Byron Bay NSW
2020: Pure Scot Fine Art Auction, Byron Bay, Group Exhibit/Auction
2020: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting) Group Show
Byron Bay Surf Festival, Byron Bay NSW
2019: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting) Group Show
Byron Bay Surf Festival, Byron Bay NSW
2018: 'Volcom Garden', (painting) Group Show, Texas USA
2018: 'Surf Culture Now' Byron Bay Surf Festival - Group Show
2018: 'The Greenroom Festival' Tokyo Japan - Group show
2017: 'Seven Seas Festival'
Byron Bay Brewery, NSW - Group Show
2017: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting)
Byron Bay Surf Festival - Group Show
2016 'In Group', with Andy Davis (USA) Hanai Yusuke (JPN) (Painting)
Bayleaf Cafe Byron Bay NSW - Group Show
2016: 'god/surf', (painting/photography/sculpture)
Driftlab Newrybar NSW – Major Solo show
2015: Mural Co-lab, with Harry Daly, (painting)
Bayleaf café Byron Bay NSW
2015: 'Harrys show', (painting)
Byron Bay NSW, with Harry Daly - Group show
2014: The Atlantic, Byron Bay, NSW (painting) - Group Show
2014: 'The Greenroom Festival' (painting/photography)
Tokyo Japan - Group show
2014: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting)
Byron Bay Surf Festival - Group Show
2013: 'What Youth' (painting)
Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay - Group Show
2013: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting)
Byron Bay Surf Festival - Group Show
2012: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting)
Byron Bay Surf Festival - Group Show
2012: Kartel Cafe, (painting) Cabarita Beach – Solo Show
2011: 'artist of the month' (painting)
Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay – Solo Show
2011: 'Surf Culture Now' (painting/sculpture)
Byron Bay Surf Festival' – Group Show
2011: 'See C sea' (painting)
Byron Bay Ind & Arts Estate – Group show
2011: 'white picket fence' (painting/photography/zine)
Byron Bay – Group show
2010: Artist Talk & Exhibition (painting)
Harvest café, Newrybar, NSW, 2 artists
2010: Dear and Yonder, (painting)
Byron Community Centre – Solo show
2010: 'Petites trevaux' (painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW - Group show
2010: 'El Mar Mi Alma' (painting)
Retrospect Galleries, Byron bay NSW – Group show
2009: 'Revolution of art' (Painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW - Group show
2009: 'Petites Trevaux' (Painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW - Group Show
2009: 'Day of the dead' (Painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW - Group show
2008: 'where mighty giants dwell' (Painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW - Group show
2008: 'Xmasea', (Painting, Illustration)
Sea Cell contemporary surf space, Byron Bay NSW - Group show
2008: 'The Greenroom Festival' (Painting)
Tokyo Japan - Group show
2008: 'New wave', (Painting)
Retrospect galleries, Byron Bay NSW – Group show
2007: 'The Greenroom Festival' (Painting)
Tokyo Japan - Group show
2006: 'Heart of a Waterbird', (painting/photography/film)
Waywood Gallery Byron Bay NSW - Solo show
2006: 'Blue Yonder artshow', (Painting/photography/film)
Solace Shop Maroochydore Qld – Solo show
2005: 'Blue Yonder' (Book Launch/painting/photography/film)
Spacejunk Gallery Manly NSW Solo show
2005: 'Blue Yonder' (Book Launch/painting/photography/film)
Bondi RSL Club NSW - Solo show
2005: 'Blue Yonder' (Book Launch/painting/photography/film)
Baptist Church Gallery Cronulla NSW - Solo show
2003: 'Surfstyle', (painting/photography)
Cassius King Gallery San Diego California, USA - Group show
2003: Surfstyle', (painting/photography)
111 Minna Gallery San Francisco California, USA - Group show
2001: 'Visual arts now', (Illustration/Sculpture)
Sydney Institute Technology NSW - Group show
1999: 'Who goes there' (painting)
Gallery 101 Cronulla NSW - Group show (2 artists)
1992: 'Let's skate', (Painting/Illustration/photography)
Resist records Newtown NSW, - Group show
COMMISSIONS
2023 Private collection - Florida, USA
2023 Surfrider Foundation Australia
2023 Private collection Byron Bay
2023 Private collection Canberra
2023 Private collection Melbourne
2023 Rainbow Galleries Sydney
2023 Private collection Byron Bay
2022 Private collection - Tokyo, Japan
2022 Private collection Phillip Island, Vic
2022 Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2022 Private collection Byron Bay
2022 Private collection - Victoria, Australia
2022 Private collection - Byron Bay, Australia
2021: Private collection - Paddington, Australia
2021: Private collection - Bondi Beach, Australia
2021: Private collection - Gold Coast, Australia
2021: Private collection - Bondi Beach, Australia
2021: Private collection - Surfers Paradise, Australia
2021: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2020: Private collection - Lennox Head, Australia
2020: Private collection - Melbourne, Australia
2020: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2019: Private collection - Melbourne, Australia
2019: Private collection - Melbourne, Australia
2019: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2019: Yum Yum Tree cafe – new branding New Brighton, Australia
2018: 'The Greenroom Festival', paintings - Group show, Tokyo Japan
2018: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2018: Byron Farmers Market – new branding Byron Bay, Australia
2018: Foamriders clothing – new season art, Newcastle Australia
2018: Private collection - Federal, Australia
2017: Private collection - Bayleaf cafe Byron Bay, Australia
2017: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2015: Mural collab Bayleaf cafe with Harry Daily Byron Bay, Australia
2015: Private collection – Byron Bay, Australia
2015: Private collection – Tokyo, Japan
2015: 'The Greenroom Festival', paintings - Group show, Tokyo Japan
2014: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2014: Private collection – Brisbane, Australia
2014 Corporate collection Skull Candy USA
2013: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2013: Mural, stART me up Bayleaf cafe, Byron Bay, Australia
2013: Private collection - Canberra, Australia
2012: Private collection - Byron Bay, Australia
2012: Private collection - Canberra, Australia
2012: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2011: Retrospect Galleries Byron Bay – artist of the month, 8 paintings
2011: Rash wetsuits – logo/branding of new wetsuit 'classic' line, Japan
2011: Byron Bay Surf Festival – art/graphics – official web and print media logo
2011: Byron Bay Surf Festival - Official branding, poster, merch
2010: Top Shop café – 3 works – art prints framed Byron Bay, Australia
2010: Nalu surfing magazine: photo essay of George Greenough, Japan
2009: Surfing World magazine: portrait photo of Dick Hoole, Japan
2008: 'The Greenroom Festival' 10 paintings - Group show, Tokyo Japan
2008: Mural 'Splendour in the Grass' music festival, Byron Bay, Australia
2007: Skull Candy, Original art skateboard deck - Utah, USA
2007: 'The Greenroom Festival', 6 paintings - Group show, Tokyo Japan