Forever Ham!

African American Artist Database


Artist’s Name James Hampton
Date of Birth
April 8, 1908
Place of Birth Elloree, South Carolina
Date of Death November 4, 1964
Occupation Folk Installation Artist


Title “The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly”
Media Found Objects
Date -1964
Size (180 objects)
Location The National Museum of American Art
URL ------------many---------



Selected Books
Hartigan, Lynda Roscoe. “The Throne of Millennium General Assembly: James Hampton: March 8 through June 19, 1977, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama.” Montgomery, Ala.: Museum of Fine Arts, 1977.

Livingston, Jane; Beardsley, John. “Black Folk Art in America 1930-1980.” Jackson: The University Press of Mississippi, 1982.



Selected Articles
Bottoms, Greg. “The Gospel According to James.” Utne Reader. Issue 110 (March/April 2002):76. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. C.G. O’Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.

Gould, Stephen Jay. “James Hampton’s Throne and Dual Nature of Time.” Smithsonian Studies in American Art. 1.1(Spring 1987):46-57. JSTOR. JSTOR. C.G. O”Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.

Hartigan, L. R. Elijah Pierce and James Hampton: one good book begets another. Folk Art v. 19 (Summer 1994) p. 52-7. H.W.Wilson. Wilson Web. C.G. O’Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.

Hartigan, L. R. Recent challenges in the study of African American folk art. International Review of African American Art v. 11 no. 3 ( 1994):26-29. H.W.Wilson. Wilson Web. C.G. O’Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.

Powell, R. J. Art, history, and vision. The Art Bulletin v. 77 (September 1995) p. 379-82. HW Wilson. WilsonWeb. C.G. O’Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.

Saar, Betye. “Temple for Tomorrow.” American Art. 8.3/4. (Summer 1994): 130-134. JSTOR. JSTOR. C.G. O’Kelly Library. Winston-Salem, NC. 2006 November 15.


Selected Websites

"My Very Own Thoughts toward BroHam"

For lack of a better description, I would like to say that James Hampton is not a nutcase. He is quite a visionary and has caught my attention since I first saw his work. When I saw the picture of him and his work, it made me wonder “what is that behind him?” Although one may keep going until they find a “better” artist or more interesting artist, James Hampton is the one for me. Educated but having worked as a janitor for the 14 years of his life, Hampton gained recognition after his death for extraordinary pieces, created from his mind’s eye. This was not only from Hampton’s imagination, but from a greater place within him that desired to be manifested outwardly.--TAM

His Biography

James Hampton was a man of impeccable stature creating works of so-called “art”, but never officially recognized as an artist while he was living. He is best known for his work of art, “The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly”, where the idea of Heaven has been created along with the throne of God having been portrayed. After his death, found along with this incredible piece was Hampton’s journal of notes, having yet to be deciphered and revealed to the public. Hampton died in 1964.

"Divine InEvitAbility."

God’s Loved One- God’s Worker


The Concordance with the work of James Hampton which seems oddly strange, I would have to say and proclaim that this man is not truly an “artist.” Why would anyone say that, you ask? His Father was the artist by which He executed His own plan, design, and figure of design through this here man. Hampton was surely a man of great stature, and is not to go unrecognized within the kingdom of God. Having lived his life according to the purpose of which he was brought about, Hampton was able to finish this creation that the Lord told him to. Preparing for things yet to come, this work is waiting and sitting only in a museum ready for the use of which it was made. Created for the glory of God this man and this work has served a purpose that mere man has had yet to figure out and understand; not knowing the reason of the works and deeds of the Holy Spirit being manifested. As Noah built the Ark in preparation for things to come, rather sooner or later, so did James work in accordance with the will of God? My Self , my inner being is able to express the language of the handwriting through the Holy Spirit working within my being ready to make known what the Spirit of the Lord has Made Manifest.

God’s Worker and Loved One
Tonya A. Moore
Student/Library Intern
2006 November 17