James Larese is an award-winning director & visual artist. Based in both Los Angeles & NYC, he began his career in the mid 90’s as an up and coming artist featured in galleries across LA, San Francisco, New York & Japan.
Always looking to push his creativity, James quickly realized that technology is simply another vessel to express and create art. Equipped with this newfound creative inspiration, he jumped in headfirst and in 2002, as a co-founding member, he formed the multi- disciplinary, artist/design collective, Syndrome.
For well over the course of the next decade, James developed and honed his love of storytelling and directing by pushing the boundaries and blurring the lines between art and commerce and in the process amassed an array of creative disciplines and styles.
He has developed original content for major networks such as Disney, MTV, ESPN and HBO and brands such as Google, Doritos, AT&T, ACTIVISION and Beats by Dre. As an obsessed lover of music, James has directed over 300 music videos working with some of the top artists in the world including Eminem, The Weeknd, Metallica, and Megan Thee Stallion.
His videos have garnered over 7 billion views and have been recognized with an array of accolades including wins for an MTV VMA, MVPA award, a UKMVA as well as nominations for 12 MTV VMAs, 2 BET awards, and an NAACP Image award. His campaign for OLD NAVY won a Bronze Lion at Cannes in 2018 and his video for Breland's hit, "Cross Country" was selected to screen at the 2022 Tribeca Films Festival.
James continues to be inspired by working in the music and commercial space as well as developing multiple feature length and long form projects.