Occhi Magazine is delighted to spotlight the extraordinary work of London-based artist Jessie Makinson, whose latest exhibition is presented by Brigitte Mulholland. Makinson’s artistic prowess has earned her a place in the collections of some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including the British Museum in London, the Long Museum in Shanghai, the Hessel Museum in New York, and the X Museum in Beijing—a testament to her growing international acclaim.
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Makinson’s art is a breathtaking fusion of drawing and painting, where ecofeminist narratives unfold in vibrant, otherworldly landscapes. Her canvases are alive with renegotiations between human and non-human, where objects seem to abandon their assigned roles and enigmatic characters are caught in moments of charged emotion—sometimes playful, sometimes rebellious, always compelling.
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What sets Jessie Makinson apart is her fearless approach to visual storytelling. Drawing inspiration from a kaleidoscopic range of sources—contemporary science fiction, 17th and 18th-century erotica, pre-agricultural myth, early Renaissance altarpieces, British folklore, and even Flemish kitchen scenes—she crafts universes that are as intellectually rigorous as they are visually arresting. Makinson plucks themes from British pop culture and cleverly intertwines them with American motifs, creating bold new contexts that invite viewers to reconsider the familiar.
Her use of vivid, saturated colour breathes life into scenes pulsing with tension and desire. The characters in her work are never mere spectators or passive figures; they are active, empowered participants—plotting, embracing, and conspiring. They hold sexual power and agency, disrupting conventional narratives and inviting the audience to question, to marvel, and to feel.
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Experiencing Makinson’s work is to enter a universe that surprises and delights at every turn—a place where boundaries are blurred and expectations are upended. Her art is both a celebration and a challenge, a vibrant testament to the possibilities of painting in the contemporary moment.
Jessie Makinson’s exhibition will be on view through 8 November at 81 rue de Turenne 75003 Paris. This is a rare opportunity to witness the work of one of the UK’s most compelling contemporary artists. For more information about the exhibition, visit Brigitte Mulholland’s website.
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Image: Jessie Makinson, The Architects, 2025, Oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm (78 3/4 x 63 inches). Courtesy of the artist and Brigitte Mulholland.
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