James Matson was born in Los Angeles California and grew up in Cooperstown, NY. 

As an undergraduate in New York City, he studied business, Mandarin language, and Chinese culture. After graduating college, he worked in business administration for Christie's and Sotheby's, the leading auction houses of fine art in New York City. Returning to upstate NY, James received his master's degree in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in 2019 and now works for the Fenimore Art Museum.