Flemington, NJ
About James Kelewae:
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.
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.
Selected exhibitions
- Morris Museum - Morristown, NJ, 2020
- Roebling Wireworks Gallery - Trenton, NJ, 2018
- Prince Street Gallery - New York, NY, 2015
- Gallery 219 - Trenton, NJ, 2014
- Low Brow Art Boutique - Brooklyn, NY, 2013
- Riverfront Renaissance Art Center - Millville, NJ, 2012
- State Theater of New Jersey - New Brunswick NJ, 2011
- Community Arts Center - Wallingford, PA, 2011
- Center for Contemporary Art - Bedminster, NJ, 2010
- Jersey City City Hall “Raw Power” - Jersey City, NJ, 2010
- CoLab - New Brunswick NJ, 2010
- Somerset Art Association - Bedminster, NJ, 2009
Education
- School of Visual Arts, BFA - New York, NY,2000
Press Accolades
- Mercer Business Magazine - 2009
- Princeton Alumni Weekly - 2009
- Trenton Times - 2009 2010 2013 2014
- Home Tribune - 2010
- Jersey Journal - 2010
- Jersey City Independent - 2011
- Utrecht Art Supply Catalog - 2011
- Montclair Times - 2012
- Street Art NYC - 2012 2013
- Hunterdon County Democrat - 2014 2015 2016