James Neil Hollingsworth was born in 1954 and raised in Marietta, Georgia. With the exception of a few life drawing classes at a community college in the 1970s, Hollingsworth is a self-taught artist. Hollingsworth was enlisted in the Air Force in 1972 as well as becoming a registered nurse working in the emergency room as well as the operating room, painting nights and weekends. In 2004, Hollingsworth committed himself to pursue his art full time. He now finds inspiration in paring down the “stuff” of life to a single item, or group of items, with pleasing color and form. Placing his subjects against a simple backdrop, he intensifies our connection to their design and aesthetic appeal through formal choices. A dramatic use of light, flawless draftsmanship, and clever compositions bring viewers up close and personal with the irresistible shapes and colors inherent in ordinary household objects. In his romanticizing of utility-driven design, one can draw comparisons between Hollingsworth’s style and mid-century modernism. His vibrant interpretation transforms utensils and edibles into powerful, visual creatures that beckon our prolonged enjoyment.