James Spencer Russell (1915-2000) was born in Monticello, Indiana, but spent much of his life in New York City. He studied with Raymond Johnson at the University of New Mexico where he received his BFA, and with Donald Oenlenger at Yale University where he received his MFA.

Russell exhibited his work in New York City with the Ruth White Gallery at 42 East 57th Street. His first one-man exhibition with the gallery, "Constructions", ran from April 21 through May 16, 1964. The exhibition was reviewed in The New York Times by Brian O'Doherty, the preeminent New York art critic of the era.

Russell continued to exhibit all across the U.S. from 1961 to the 1990s, and was considered a pioneer of set design fo...