Born in Nashua in 1948, James Aponovich attended the University of New Hampshire at Durham. Although he began his career as a portraitist and figure painter, often of himself, he has been known since the early 1980s for his elaborate still life compositions. He began to exhibit during the 1970s, showing his work at the annual NH Art Association Currier shows from 1973 – 1985, winning prizes for his drawing. In 1976 he was given his first major solo show at New England College in Henniker; it was followed by on at the Currier in 1979.Married to Elizabeth Johannsen a professional horticulturist, he has found a niche in painting still lifes in landscape backgrounds. Aponovich’s work features complex compositions often set against idealized Italian landscapes, especially since his 2010 as visiting artist at the American Academy in Rome.
A Lifetime Fellow of the NH State Council on the Arts, Aponovich was named New Hampshire’s Artist Laureate in 2006. He has exhibited widely in galleries and museums, including 2005 retrospective at the Currier ahead of his artist laureate honor. Now a nationally known artist, his work may be seen in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Portland Museum of Art.
Written and submitted by Richard Candee, Professor Emeritus, Boston University and past President of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Historical Society
