Spotlight

Interview Artist Jessica Carter

Championed by Dylan Jones OBE
The Wick Culture - Jessica Carter
Above  Jessica Carter
ONES TO
WATCH
ONES TO
WATCH
The Wick Culture - Jessica Carter
Above  Jessica Carter
Interview
Jessica Carter
20 July 2022
Interview
Jessica Carter
20 July 2022
If you spent lockdown perfecting your banana bread recipe, artist Jessica Carter is about to put you to shame – she spent nine months of lockdown painting over 40 abstract butterfly wings in support of the Artist Support Pledge, so she could donate 10% of all profits to Mind, the mental health charity. A cause she felt especially strongly about because of the mental health issues exacerbated by lockdown.

It’s not just her generosity that inspires this week’s champion, author, editor and family friend Dylan Jones, but her talent that belies her age.
Jones says: “Jessica Carter’s work completely confounds her age and experience, as it is rather extraordinary. In fact, I think it’s better than that. The first time I saw her work I tried to buy it, and was disappointed – and not a little annoyed – to find it had been bought by someone else (I am currently working out a way to steal it from them without them noticing).”

After studying Fine Art, with a particular focus on photography, at Leeds University, Carter set about developing her own unique visual language using ephemeral phenomena – raw flesh. In her works, the discarded and otherwise wasted meat’s existence is captured in a moment of time and promptly given a purpose. She uses a variety of mediums, including ceramics, oil painting, machine embroidery as well as photography, to turn the grotesque into the beautiful and examine the transience of nature, to create abstract pieces with a strong visual impact.

Jones says: “She is developing quickly as an artist, by managing to combine an innate sense of design with genuine artistic flair. Her sculptural works have an organic quality about them, again one that belies her age. It is unusual to see such maturity and sophistication in a young artist, and I for one am fascinated to see how she develops.”

You can see Carter’s latest creations, a collection of unique butterfly prints, on display at Scarborough Hospital until September. Carter is also currently working on a butterfly painting, which will be hung in The Carter Room at London’s Groucho Club once it is ready. In September, she will also be starting an art and business course at Sotheby’s.

About the champion

The Wick Culture - Interview Artist Jessica Carter

Before stepping down last year, Dylan Jones was the award-winning editor of GQ magazine, and the recipient of the British Society of Magazine Editors “Editor of the Year” award for a record 11 times. He joined the title after roles at i-D and The Face, all which saw him awarded an OBE for services to publishing in 2013. In 2011, Jones also spearheaded the launch of London Fashion Week: Men’s, London’s first men’s fashion week.

“It is unusual to see such maturity and sophistication in a young artist.”

Place of Birth

London, UK

Education

Foundation at Leeds Arts University, and a BA Honours in Fine Art with Art History at the University of Leeds.

Spiritual guides, Mentors

My parents, Rob and Nicky Carter, are full-time artists who work together. They have always been a massive support throughout my life and have helped my passion for art develop from a young age. I also have huge respect for the female artists Caroline Walker, Flora Yukhnovich and Carolina Mazzolari whose work I absolutely love. Their work and exhibitions I follow very closely.

Current Exhibitions

Twelve unique butterfly prints are on display at Scarborough Hospital until September 2022.

Advice

Being creative is an honour. Although it can be tough at times, the art world is an incredible place to be. Never give up and spend your life doing what you enjoy most. It should always be a huge privilege to be involved in the art scene. Every artist has the responsibility to say something about the world in which we live. Keep on making!


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