James Purpura first exhibited in Ohio, then Seattle. In 2010, he joined 59 Rivoli, an artist collective that belongs to the City of Paris and which is open to the public, receiving over three thousand visitors per week. James Purpura is therefore in daily contact with the public. A unique Parisian alternative art destination, 59 Rivoli is a place where artists meet visitors from around the world.

His eclectic work includes abstract, figurative, landscapes, and a mix thereof, all the while keeping color as a common thread. It is all a mix of influences that lead him to new artistic discoveries, including music, his travels, and his imagination. In addition to many shows in Paris, he has exhibited in the Czech Republic, in Italy, the Netherlands and in Luxembourg.