James L. Acord, sculptor

James Leroy Acord (1944–2011) was an artist recognized for his work with radioactive materials. His artistic practice involved creating sculptures and events that engaged with the history of nuclear engineering and addressed questions surrounding the long-term storage of nuclear waste.

The James L. Acord archival collection chronicles the life, career, and legacy of Acord, who was the only private individual to be licensed for the artistic use of radioactive materials. Acord’s work is characterized by his efforts to combine nuclear science with contemporary sculpture. His nuclear license number was tattooed on his neck.

For 15 years, Acord resided in Richland, Washington, a community established for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. While there, he developed a proposal to construct a "Nuclear Stonehenge" on a contaminated section of the Hanford site, which would have incorporated twelve uranium breeder-blanket assemblies. He also created the sculpture, "Monstrance for a Grey Horse," which is located at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

Acord lectured at art and nuclear industry events in both the United States and the United Kingdom. He also organized forums that convened artists, activists, and nuclear industry experts. From 1998 to 1999, he held an Artist in Residence position at Imperial College London.

He died in Seattle on January 9, 2011, at the age of 66.