ABOUT JESS
ABOUT THE WORK
I am fascinated by what we can know in a gaze or a gesture, how connections are silently communicated and then privately understood by the viewer. I am interested in expressing the complex characters of living beings and the connections we share with the world around us, to visually articulate the unspoken yet meaningful exchanges between all living and nonliving things.
My work frequently showcases subjects whose outward stare or postural gestures engage the viewer in an off-kilter way, emphasizing the unsettled wonder of these non-verbal exchanges. They can suggest glimpses of empathy, tension, and calm.
Art can articulate these ephemeral moments. So, by paying attention to what is often intangible without imposing control, my work offers opportunities for pause, contemplation, imagination, and, most importantly, connection. For me, this is the most remarkable gift of art.
As a self-taught artist, I take pride in blurring the lines between paintings and drawings. I love line and the psychological power of marks. I work in acrylic, charcoal, pastel ink, and cut paper. I don’t make preliminary studies: I begin with an idea and immediately move to express it. I enjoy the ability of these continuous adjustments to surprise. I layer a web of energetic lines from which the essence of my subjects emerges. I often use hot water to then deface the surface and reveal ghosts of underpainting. Next, I simplify and focus the forms and enhance the details. The end is a heavily layered work poised between chaos and calm.
BIO
Jess Frederick is a native New Yorker who innately understands its frenetic pace and extraordinary textures. Born in Brooklyn and raised on the slippery, glitter-dusted cobblestones of the 1990s Meatpacking District, Jess returned to Brooklyn’s Crown Heights shortly after 2001.
Foregoing a traditional art school education, Jess graduated in 1997 from Iowa’s Grinnell College with a BA in the Humanities. It was an act of New York serendipity that offered her first exhibition. This exhibit redefined the role of art in Jess’s life and started her on the artistic path. Jess focuses on creative collaborations in fashion, self-produced exhibitions, and private commissions. Exhibitions include KODA at St. Ann’s Church and previous and upcoming shows at Five Myles.
WHY SHEEP?
I was drawn to sheep by their weirdness. Articulating their unusual shapes and uncanny stare launched me into a series of paintings exploring ideas around communication and interaction, as discussed in my artist’s statement. As these sheep interact with the viewer purely through gesture and line they convey both movement and stillness. This emphasizes a protective stance within the flock and suggests their relationships with each other. Imagining their thoughts opens us up to a new understanding, which is a testament to my artistic vision.
