Contemporary New York-based artist Cody James draws the most fascinating portraits of animals and people alike. His mastery of the ball point pen is nothing short of amazing. An art gallery wrote that his images feel “lived rather than manufactured.” I find that assessment pretty accurate. They’re messy and dirty and filled with energy and completely believable. I enjoy all of his work, but it’s his portrayals of people that really blow me away.

“Cody James is a New York–based contemporary artist exploring the tension between control and instinct through line, repetition, and portraiture. Working primarily in ballpoint pen and mixed media, his pieces merge structured geometry with raw, expressive mark-making. Layers of line build depth and movement, revealing subjects that feel both fragmented and intensely present. Each work captures a moment of exploration — a study of emotion, identity, and human energy.”

James sells his original art, but he never makes prints so as he says, when it’s gone, it’s gone. I kind of love that! He’s embracing the fleeting nature of ephemera.

You can follow Cody James on his website and on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.