FRIEZE 

Elsa James' debut live durational performance at Tate Britain is featured in the Emergent Roundtable conversation by Bolanle Tajudeen. In print issue No 254 and online. October 2025

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THE WICK 

Ones to Watch Artist Spotlight: Elsa James is featured in the weekly artist-focused section, championed by Sally Shaw MBE, director at Firstsite. June 2025

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BBC NEWS 

Artist launches British slavery exhibition: A renowned Essex-based artist is looking to reflect on three centuries of Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade through her new exhibition. June 2025

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BBC LIVE BROADCAST

Live broadcast interview for the BBC evening news, discussing aspects of the solo exhibition, It Should Not Be Forgotten, at Firstsite. June 2025

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THE ART NEWSPAPER

Louisa Buck's Review: Elsa James’s exhibition in my home county, Essex, is a potent rejection of the erasure of history. In Print and online. May 2025

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STANDARD ISSUE PODCAST

Elsa James’s new exhibition, It Should Not Be Forgotten, explores themes of chattel enslavement and its impact on contemporary Black British life. Jen chats to Elsa about the exhibition’s themes, sharing history, and facing its discomfort. April 2025

HONORARY DOCTORATE

Conceptual artist and prominent activist Elsa James has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Essex for her tireless work in redefining the term, Essex Girl. June 2024

THE GUARDIAN

Adrian Searle's review of Rites of Passage at Gagosian: "The neon, by Southend-based artist Elsa James, hangs over the entrance to Rites of Passage...Lammy’s quotation is succinct, direct and so freighted". April 2023

GAGOSIAN

Welcoming viewers to the gallery is Elsa James’s Ode to David Lammy MP (2022). The work’s black neon text reads I AM HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE...April 2003

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FAD MAGAZINE

Gagosian is pleased to present Rites of Passage at the Britannia Street gallery. Curated by Péjú Oshin, this exhibition features work by eighteen contemporary artists who share a history of migration. May 2023

GAL-DEM

Interview: An Ode to Black Essex Girls: In conversation with her daughter Storm, artist Elsa James shares her approach to story (re)telling that centres black women, gal-dem online magazine. May 2023

ESSEX LIFE MAGAZINE

Inspational Women: Making Essex Proud to mark International Women's Day. March 2023

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ART MONTHLY

Matthew Bowman's review of Othered in a region that has been historically Othered, at Focal Point Gallery. Issue no. 459. September 2022

RADIO 4 WOMEN'S HOUR

Live studio interview with Anita Rani: The artist and feminist activist Elsa James explores her identity as a black woman living in Essex for the last 20 years. July 2022

ARTLYST

Re-imagining Essex: The image of Essex is currently being questioned, challenged and re-framed by artists and exhibitions in and from Essex. July 2022

THE I NEWSPAPER

Hettie Judah's Review: The new exhibition by the artist, and member of the Essex Girl Liberation Front. She talks black history, the Jab Jab dance and claiming the mantra ‘Black Girl Essex’. In print and online. June 2022

EKOW ESHUN INTERVIEW

An interview between Ekow Eshun and Elsa James took place on 31 May 2022 in relation to her solo exhibition at Focal Point Gallery, Othered in a region that has been historically Othered. June 2022

ART QUARTERLY

Reclaiming Essex. More than 30 years after the cultural stereotypes of ‘Essex Man’ and ’Essex Girl’ were coined, artists Michael Landy and Elsa James meet in Southend to discuss what the terms mean to them. Interview by Helen Sumpter for the Summer issue. June 2021

BLACK BALLAD

Chloe Austin's Reveiw: The Black British Artists Challenging Super White Britain: 'Super Black' is an important exhibition speaks to the experience of being black outside of London, and prompts a conversation that is often avoided outside of the capital. January 2020

BBC NEWS

The black princess who 'took on a white world': Elsa James, an artist in Southend, featured the princess in her recent Forgotten Black Essex exhibition. November 2019

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BBC STUDIO GUEST

Invited studio guest for the BBC evening news to mark Black History Month, October 2019

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