Artist Statement
My work explores memory, family history, and the everyday moments that shape our lives. I keep a daily drawing journal where I sketch places, objects, food, and people I encounter. Over time, these drawings become a visual record of my experiences and a catalog of small, meaningful moments.
After my mother passed away, I received a small collection of photographs from her childhood. The limited number of images and missing stories made me think about what we leave behind and how our lives are remembered. This led me to begin documenting my own life more intentionally through drawing.
Alongside my journals, I create paintings inspired by vintage family photographs, imagining the stories that may exist beyond the frame. Through vibrant color and expressive mark-making using watercolor, ink, acrylic, marker, and colored pencil, my work celebrates everyday life while preserving memories of the past and present.
Bio
Jessica received a BFA in Art History and Painting from the University of Kansas and a Master’s in Public Art Studies from the University of Southern California. In her studies, she focused on painting in oils, figure drawing, photography, and printmaking. Art history informed her passion for connecting art with discussion, history and storytelling. Her graduate thesis explored ways museum curators and officials can use public projects and programming to help address the issue of connecting with new audiences by creating social spaces and participatory experiences.
Jessica now lives in Ann Arbor, MI with her family and continues to paint and participate in public art initiatives while balancing a family and a full time professional career. Visit her also at Drawn Together to learn more about her collaborative community art project.