James Benedict, also known as Jimiyo, is a Smyrna, Georgia-based artist and designer working primarily in handcrafted cardboard sculpture. His current work focuses on dimensional animal forms, wall-mounted sculptural pieces, and layered paper/cardboard construction. His background includes commercial illustration, apparel graphics, art direction, product development, public-facing art markets, exhibitions, and workshop instruction.

2026 — Artist in Residence Exhibition, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge, GA
Official Artist-in-Residence exhibition presented in a dedicated gallery space.

2025 — Wildlife Art Showcase: Wild Things, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge, GA

2008 — Connect 12 Artist Collective, Downtown Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN

2007 — Connect 12 Artist Collective, Dangenart Gallery, Nashville, TN

c. 2007 — Plowhaus Artisan Fair, Nashville, TN

2025 — Fall Arts in the Park Festival, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge, GA

2025 — Annual Holiday Market, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge, GA

2009 — 5th Annual Indie Craft Experience, Atlanta, GA

2026 — Make Your Own Cardboard Mini Owl Workshop, Artist in Residence Series, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge, GA

2008 — DesignByHumans Shirt of the Month Award, Revelations

2008 — DesignByHumans DBH10K, 4th Place Award, Fight the Good Fight

2008–2010 — Multiple paid apparel-design awards and selected printed designs, DesignByHumans, Threadless, Shirt.Woot, Artcotic, and Uneetee

Selected clients, platforms, and licensing partners include Billabong, Quiksilver, Fleetwood Mac, Harley-Davidson, Avanti Press, Woodmansterne, Threadless, DesignByHumans, Shirt.Woot, TeeFury, Redbubble, Uneetee, Sullen Clothing, BlackMilk Clothing, and Metal Ink Shop.

Jimiyo LLC, Remote
Entrepreneur / Artist / Designer
2007–present
Operated an independent creative business spanning illustration, apparel graphics, product development, online retail, licensing, social media, and original artwork.

TeeFury LLC, Irvine, CA
Art Director
2010–2013
Directed product development and artist relations for a high-volume online apparel company. Managed and coordinated work from a large international freelance artist network and helped guide daily product decisions during a period of major audience growth.

Occupational Therapist / Hand Therapist, Georgia
c. 2022–2024
Licensed occupational therapist specializing in hand therapy and upper-extremity rehabilitation.

Master of Occupational Therapy, Georgia State University, 2022

Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications, Middle Tennessee State University, 2002