James Hoeck is a photojournalist and artist based in Chicagoland.
Hoeck completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography and minor in media (advertising, journalism, and media & cinema studies) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May of 2025. 
Hoeck served as the Photo Editor for the Illini Media Company’s newspaper The Daily Illini receiving several accolades for his work with the publication. Hoeck also led as Editor-in-Chief of the book publication, Illio.  
Outside his career as a journalist, Hoeck creates images as a fine art photographer, focusing on personal documentation and portraiture. His work was featured in the Krannert Art Museum, the second largest art museum in Illinois.

Hoeck is open for freelance and full-time work.
: semaj.jpeg@gmail.com






Awards



2025 Peggy Purkhosrow Scholarship in Studio Art | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Art & Design, College of Fine & Applied Arts

2025 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — First Place, Photo Essay | Illinois College Press Association

2025 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — Second Place, Sports Photo | Illinois College Press Association

2025 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — Honorable Mention, General News Photo | Illinois College Press Association

2024 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — Third Place, General News Photo | Illinois College Press Association

2023 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — First Place, Feature Photo | Illinois College Press Association

2023 Award for Excellence in Illinois College Newspapers — Honorable Mention, Photo Essay | Illinois College Press Association




Exhibitions



2025 BFA Exhibition - Journal of James P. Hoeck, Krannert Art Musuem, Champaign, IL

2025 Journal of James P. Hoeck, Flagg Hall, Champaign, IL


2025 BEYOND THE PAGES, BLOC Gallery, Champaign, IL

2025 Takeover, School of Art & Design, Champaign, IL

2024 The Whole Donut, Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

2024 New Work: Advanced Photography, BLOC Gallery, Champaign, IL

2023 Cross/Cut, BLOC Gallery, Champaign, IL

2022 Takeover, School of Art & Design, Champaign, IL  

2021 8 to CREATE, Illini Union, Urbana, IL





Publications



2021-2025 The Daily Illini, Champaign, IL

2025 Evolving NostalgiaIllio, Vol. 131, Champaign, IL 

2024 Renaissance Illio, Vol. 131, Champaign, IL 

2024 The Fashion Network UIUC, Issue 13, Champaign, IL

2023 VerveIllio, Vol. 130, Champaign, IL

2022 Good Morning IlliniIllio, Vol. 129, Champaign, IL

2021 Into the FutureWoodstock North High School Yearbook, Vol. 13, Woodstock, IL

2020 RetroWoodstock North High School Yearbook, Vol. 12, Woodstock, IL  

© 2026 James Hoeck