James "Jimmy" Valkus

James “Jimmy” Valkus lived a life shaped by creativity, independence, and a love of beauty. An artist and designer whose work extended from corporate identities to museum exhibitions, fashion, and painting, he brought his imagination to both his professional achievements and the places he called home.

Through his New York firm, James Valkus Inc., Jimmy played a significant role in shaping Canadian National Railway’s modern visual identity. Working with designer Allan Fleming, who created the celebrated continuous-line CN logo, Jimmy helped develop a comprehensive design program. From 1960 to early 1968, his firm guided its application across locomotives, stations, uniforms, menus, and printed materials, bringing a consistent visual identity to an enormous range of everyday objects and spaces.

Jimmy’s artistic contributions also reached museum audiences. His work appeared in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibitions *Lettering by Hand* in 1962–1963 and *Word and Image* in 1968. His interests encompassed typography, painting, murals, fashion, and interiors, reflecting his curiosity about the many ways art could become part of everyday life.

He also helped give fashion designer Stephen Burrows an important early platform. At O Boutique, which Jimmy founded on Park Avenue South, Burrows presented his first fashion show for spring 1969. The boutique brought together paintings, sculpture, and clothing. With R&B music playing, the show unfolded in the street-level window, attracting viewers inside the shop and outside on the sidewalk. It was a memorable intersection of art, fashion, and New York street life.

An important chapter of Jimmy’s personal life was his partnership with Milton Farquhar, a jewelry, accessory, and interior designer. Together, they made a home on the island of Itaparica in Bahia, Brazil, restoring a historic property known as Quinta Pitanga. Their home reflected their shared creativity and love of beauty, becoming a gathering place for friends, artists, and visitors. Following Milton’s death in 1996, their years together remained an enduring part of Jimmy’s story.

In his later years in Wilton Manors, Florida, Jimmy continued to paint and create. His canvases and murals brought color and character to the spaces around him, extending his artistic life into his community and the homes of friends.

Those who knew Jimmy remember more than his professional accomplishments. They remember his wit, his independence, and his distinctive way of seeing the world. His legacy lives on in his contributions to design, the artwork he left behind, and the memories held by those who shared his life.

Jimmy will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.