The Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) and MOAH:CEDAR were pleased to present Hands That Feed Us, a solo exhibition by artist Michael James. The exhibition was on view from October 11 through January 18, 2026, at MOAH:CEDAR. 

MOAH:CEDAR’s exhibition, Hands That Feed Us, highlighted the critical yet often overlooked labor of migrant farm workers in the United States. Through his self-described style of Chromatic Stylized Realism, Michael James portrayed farm workers not as anonymous laborers but as essential figures at the foundation of American life—individuals who sustained the nation while receiving little recognition or protection. The exhibition addressed powerful themes such as narratives of migration, the heroic demands of agricultural work, and the complex realities of immigration and border politics.

“In this series, I asked viewers to pause and consider the people whose labor quietly sustains our daily lives to understand their journey to get to this place, the labor they perform, and the daily challenges they face. Farm workers are often unseen, yet they carry the weight of our nation’s food supply. We depend on them both economically and practically. Through these paintings, I hoped to open a space for recognition, discussion, and reflection,” said artist Michael James.

Michael James was born in Southampton, New York, and lived and worked in Southern California. He was trained in figurative painting at the Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago. He exhibited nationally and internationally in both museums and galleries. His work received numerous accolades, including Best in Exhibition at the 40th Annual All-Media Juried Art Exhibition at MOAH:CEDAR, and the Excellence in Painting award at the 2024 LA Open Juried Show at TAG Gallery in Los Angeles, CA.