James van Sweden earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan in 1960. He then studied landscape architecture at the University at Delft, the Netherlands, and served as Assistant Town Planner for Amsterdam. Upon returning to the United States in 1963, he became a partner in charge of urban design and landscape architecture for Marcou, O'Leary and Associates in Washington D.C. He practiced there until founding Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, Inc. with Wolfgang Oehme in 1977.

van Sweden's multidisciplinary design talents encompass architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design. He is the author of several distinguished gardening books and maintains an active schedule of related lectures. He is a Fellow of the ASLA and recipient of many prestigious awards.

Artist Statement: After two years of collaboration, James van Sweden and Middle Kingdom crafters created this tea setting to celebrate the New American Garden Collection, which reflects the year round beauty of the natural landscape. Interpreted by Landscape Architect Ching-Fang Chen of Oehme van Sweden and Associates, Inc., the illustrations celebrate the ephemeral nature of four grasses that weave through the tapestry of the garden, including Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola,’ Pennisetum alopcuroides, Chasmanthium latifolium, and Muhlenbergia capillaries, respectively.

Photograph: Gary Landsman