Who is Bob Dylan’s media-shy grandson, James Dylan? The accomplished photographer is editor-in-chief of an art and culture magazine he co-founded with Richard Avedon’s grandson

Jan 23 , 2025

James Dylan, grandson of Bob Dylan and co-founder of Breach magazine, stays relatively out of the spotlight https://www.instagram.com/p/DE8VPN1M3vA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Bob Dylan’s grandson has worked with clients including Chloé and Tod’s, and his magazine has featured model Gabbriette Bechtel – who’s engaged to Taylor Swift’s ex, Matty Healy

Days after the release of Bob Dylan’s celebrated biopic, James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as the Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter, his draft lyrics to “Mr. Tambourine Man” sold at auction for US$508,000. Per Billboard, the bidding was conducted through Julien’s Auctions as part of a larger sale of items from late journalist Al Aronowitz’s collection. It was in Aronowitz’s Berkeley Heights, New Jersey home that Dylan conceived and wrote the first version of a song that would top the charts in 1965. Although it was discarded by the young Dylan, Aronowitz held on to the typewritten copy, he revealed in a 1973 article.

An image released by Julien’s Auctions showing Bob Dylan’s draft lyrics for Mr. Tambourine Man. Photo: Julien’s Auctions/AP

The success of Mangold’s Dylan biopic has renewed interest in his discography, which, per Billboard, saw 11.6 million streamings during the week of the film’s US release. However, Dylan’s oeuvre is not the only thing drawing fans’ attention. With the film’s exploration of his personal life, his family is under the microscope too, particularly the members who largely avoid it.

Here is everything we know about Bob Dylan’s lesser-known grandson, James.

Who are James Dylan’s parents?

Jakob Dylan, son of Bob, father of James, discusses his record Women + Country at the Grammy Museum in 2010 in Los Angeles. Photo: Getty Images

According to Famous Birthdays, James Dylan is the child of Bob Dylan’s son Jakob Dylan and his wife Paige. He was born in 1998 and is 27. Jakob, also the father of actor and model Levi Dylan, is known for keeping his personal life under wraps. As such, not much information is available about James’ childhood. Similarly, James himself is a private person, with little to no social media presence.

What does he do for work?

James Dylan is a photographer and filmmaker, per Fashion Network. He also co-founded the art, fashion and culture magazine Breach with fellow nepo grandbaby Michael Avedon, whose grandfather was famous photographer Richard Avedon. Breach was launched in 2023 with a party in New York’s Chapel Bar, which was attended by the likes of Patti Smith, Wanda Sykes, Emanuele Della Valle and more. James serves as the editor-in-chief of the publication, per its official website.