James Kao is a Chicago-based artist who makes paintings and drawings. Selected one-person exhibitions include Do it cuz you love it, China Projects, San Francisco, CA; Possible Worlds, Toomey Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, CA; Domestics, Adds Donna, Chicago, IL; Ways of Worldmaking, Lloyd Dobler Gallery, Chicago, IL, and Starlight, boundary, Chicago, IL. He has attended various artist residencies including: Marina Abramovic Institute-West, San Francisco, CA; White Mountain National Forest Artist in Residence, Center Sandwich, NH; Catwalk Institute, Catwalk, NY; The Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists, Lehon, France; Trélex Residency, Trélex, Switzerland; and Montello Foundation, Montello, NV.

Kao is co-founder and co-director of 4th Ward Project Space in Chicago, IL.

Kao holds M.F.A. and B.F.A. degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. He is Associate Professor of Art at Aurora University in Aurora, IL.