James L. Pierce began his career in the custom framing field more than forty years ago with Baltimore’s renowned Purnell Art Company, where he spent ten years learning everything he could about the presentation and preservation of works of art. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, Jim eventually struck out on his own, running his business from the basement of his home and joining forces with Bill Tomlinson, who as Vice President of Roten Gallery had overseen the company’s unparalleled collection of prints. Together Jim and Bill were at the forefront of the movement toward conservation technology. Through working extensively with the Kiplinger Corporation and on a project with the National Gallery of Art, James L. Pierce further developed his expertise and his name soon became synonymous with framing and conservation among area artists, collectors, galleries, and museums. Jim was well aware of the failure of earlier framing practices to protect valuable documents and artwork. Accordingly, he made a firm commitment to “always do what is best for the work” and to keep up with technological advances in the field.

From Jim’s basement, the business moved to the Alley Shops in Pikesville. Within six months, the business outgrew this location and moved again to the 40th Street Rotunda in 1972. In 1974, Jim rented space in two buildings located in the 2400 block of North Charles Street. The company continued to grow steadily, and in 1979 Jim bought the building at 2406 North Charles, where James L. Pierce Custom Framing still operates its showroom and four floors of workshops dedicated to designing, building, finishing, and gilding custom frames, as well as fitting, joining, and matting to museum standards. Jim, who never put much stock in advertising, built his reputation by word of mouth and through networking with the best conservators in the area. Artists and collectors alike learned that they could entrust their works to Jim and his talented team of craftspeople. This trust is perhaps most notably evident in the close relationships Jim established with not only local conservators but, as a natural consequence, with the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Maryland Historical Society, and leading area galleries. These relationships have been ongoing and have earned James L. Pierce the well deserved credibility the company continues to enjoy today.

In April of 2006, Jim retired and, with his blessing, passed ownership of the company on to the capable hands of Thomas A. Stone, who has worked closely with Jim for almost ten years. Thom brings to James L. Pierce Custom Framing the same commitment to “always do what is best for the work.” He also brings a new vision to extend that commitment to a larger audience through the opening of a second location, the new James L. Pierce Fine Art Framing showroom and Gallery at Green Spring Station in Lutherville, Maryland. The company continues to grow and thrive as the area’s leading provider of custom framing services.