Hi! I’m Jesse.
Who am I as an artist?
I believe in the power of art to educate and affirm the inherent beauty of the human spirit. I began my artistic journey during a time of personal upheaval, when, two days after the death of my brother, I began my medical transition from female to male. Art is a source of connection with my brother, who was also an artist; each monster and its accompanying affirmation are messages to him and to myself about the values that allow me to live at peace in the world.
Why am I interested in showing my work?
I taught ELA in the Baltimore City Public Schools system for 6 years, and one of the goals of my art is to be able to spread affirming and educational messages.
What is my style and what mediums do I use?
I predominately use watercolors and ink to create colorful monsters, which I accompany with affirmational statements, such as “I am grateful to be alive in the universe” and “I respect my boundaries”. I begin each piece with a colorful blot, which I transform into a monster. This allows each piece to develop naturally, without a destination in mind — a reminder of the non-linear nature of life itself. I also create more intricate monster-inspired scenes with political statements, such as “Housing is a human right” and “Everyone deserves access to clean water”, that I accompany with educational essays meant to inform my audience about the ways in which this political issue manifests today, as well as action that can be taken to make progress towards a more equitable world.