Jessica Justus

Jessica Justus is a painter living and working in Encinitas CA.

It's a love story of the skin...

I've always painted. But I never felt like I had anything to say with my art. So much magic to capture and I couldn't figure out how to do it. For years I painted but was stunted by fear. Fear of failure. Judgement. Making hollow work. It took my moving to San Diego, failing at a graphic design career, becoming a nurse in the ICU, and having kids to make me come around.

As a nurse I’ve seen the skin lose its luster. It isn't magic anymore. I see people sick and dying and flesh becomes just that...flesh. It’s given me the freedom to paint without trying to infuse everything with the magic of being. And becoming a mother has given me the balls to paint whatever I want. Many of my recent works are an exploration in how we view and portray ourselves through the influence and lens of social media and advertising. I am contemplating and navigating my personal vision of women in art and how themes of sexualization, objectification and motherhood are viewed. Much of my images are digested from fashion editorials, album covers, beach culture and pop American iconography. I want my paintings to evoke a sense of empowerment, the way a good song on a car ride can make you feel happy, exhilarated and cool. I am particularly interested in how women can own their own sexual imagery and focus on relational aspects of feminine identity. I currently live and work in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California.