Jess Burgess is a British artist
who merges traditional painterly techniques and compositions of everyday
activities with influences of technology and the digital age to portray a
contemporary perspective of the world. Her research examines the impact of the
virtual space of the digital screen on the way we view the world, in particular
the habit of simultaneously viewing many windows full of disconnected images.
These works include a collage of disparate layers that are flattened together
to make a unified image, an action done through painting.
The result is a unique viewpoint
that questions the end of one image and the beginning of the next, which
disrupts the pictorial composition while simultaneously merging engaging and
relatable images. Burgess’ subject matter – images of women, interiors, and
objects, in some way, convey her experiences and anxieties, though from a
distance. Due to her research through the virtual window, she can reflect on
how, as a painter, technology impacts the way she looks, thinks, and works.
Jess Burgess studied at Norwich University of the Arts, where she completed her
BA (2016) and MA (2017) in Fine Art.
Featured image: Jess Burgess - A Mille-fuille,
2020 (detail). Oil, acrylic on linen. 49 x 39 cm. This is a unique work. Photo
courtesy Artistellar