James Michaels has been a full time practicing artist since 1979. Over the years Mr. Michaels has won numerous awards, grants and fellowships. In 1986-87 he was awarded a national fellowship in painting which included exhibitions of his work in New York and California. In 1990 and 2010 he won Best of Show at Gasparilla. In 1991 he had a one person exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art. James’ involvement with the Morean included several exhibitions, most notably a two-man show in 1985 with sculptor John Tilton, and a one-man show in 2003, for which Rapunzel was created.