John John Jesse Exhibition

Opera Gallery

poster for John John Jesse Exhibition

This event has ended.

A voracious autodidact, Jesse began his career by painting posters, flyers and record sleeves for punk rock bands at the age of 14.
Born and raised in New York Cityʼs Lower East Side, and the founding member of the influential punk band Nausea, Jesse defines punk rock as:

“The world in which i entered as a teenager because i didnʼt fit in anywhere, not at school, not with friends, and not with my family. Back
in the 80ʼs we were all serious misfits who didnʼt belong. We were angry, political, idealistic, drunk and proud. Basically punk rock music goes beyond the realms of just being a music scene. Itʼs my world and honestly itʼs all iʼve known and where i fit in.”
These words also mark John Johnʼs career as a painter. Jesse embodies the New York City punk rock lifestyle and shares this through his paintings.

His uniquely styled drawings laid the ground work that transformed him into a painter. Later on his style evolved into a distinct artistic language, concentrating on obsessive details, combined with true life images birthed from his experiences. Vivid colors built up in traslucent layers of gouache, graphite, ink, spray paint and acrylic, hand painted on wooden panels and framed in vintage baroque frames.

While some may define his work as a combination of pop culture and surrealism enveloped by a dreamy atmosphere, Jesseʼs themes are actually real memories and nostalgic blends of innocence, heartbreak, cultural connotation, rebelliousness and temptation. What we see in his works are not imaginery scenes but realities that have lived with the artist.
In “The World Of John John Jesse” we experience the roots and origins of his works. Comprised of twenty five paintings, drawings, pictures and installation, this exhibition tracks the life story of this unique talent, an artist whose authenticity cannot be defined by any artistic style.

A fastidious worker who invests an inordinate number of hours in his craft, Jesse shows us how addictive creativity can be when channeled through the right outlet and, for him, that outlet is art.

Media

Schedule

from February 28, 2013 to March 17, 2013

Opening Reception on 2013-02-28 from 18:00 to 21:00

Artist(s)

John John Jesse

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