Can you recall the moment you realized you wanted to be an artist? When I was eight, I drew portraits of my teacher and the school principal, and they absolutely loved them. I think that was one of the first moments I realized the power of art—and that I wanted to keep making it.
How has your work evolved over the past five years? Over the past five years, my work has deepened both visually and conceptually. While I’ve stayed rooted in mid-century imagery and the emotional pull of nostalgia, I’ve become more attuned to composition, color relationships, and psychological space. The paintings have grown quieter: more refined and distilled, but also more layered beneath the surface. I’ve learned to trust subtlety, to let the atmosphere carry more weight, and to leave space for ambiguity. It’s been a gradual but deliberate evolution, and I think the work is more open-ended and emotionally resonant as a result.
Was there a painting or series that marked a pivotal shift in your approach or visibility? Yes, my Static series, featuring analog objects, was my first body of work that got attention beyond my own circle. It helped me find an audience and gave me confidence to keep pushing my ideas forward.
Who or what has been a lasting influence on your work, either visually or conceptually? Edward Hopper, Wayne Thiebaud, Paul Rand, Corita Kent, Richard Diebenkorn, Sol LeWitt, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Fairfield Porter have all been major influences. Their sense of space, design, color, and clarity continues to inspire me.
Your work often draws from found photographs. What’s your process for discovering and selecting them? I’m constantly sifting through vintage imagery—whether at flea markets, online archives, or tucked away in forgotten corners—until something stops me. It’s intuitive. When something resonates, I know it’s worth exploring further.
What is it about mid-century American life that continues to hold your attention? There was a visual simplicity back then that seemed to have less noise and more intention. Everyday objects and environments were built with care and a sense of permanence, which differs from our current throwaway culture. The balance of function, form, and sturdiness appeals to me.
Do you ever come across the stories behind the images you use? If so, how does that impact your work? Occasionally, yes, and it’s always fascinating. Sometimes it deepens my connection to the image, but I usually prefer not to know too much. I want to leave space for my own interpretation—and for the viewer’s.
There’s a narrative quality to your paintings, though they often feel like fragments. How do you balance storytelling with ambiguity? I think of it like a great pop song. It has enough layers to keep you coming back, hearing something new each time, rather than one catchy hook you get tired of. I want the paintings to feel familiar but open-ended, like a memory you can never quite place.
Can you describe your workflow—from choosing a photo to completing a painting? I start by selecting an image, then decide on the composition. From there, I make a rough sketch, outline the shapes, block in color, and then refine, refine, refine. I basically create a messy painting and then fix it until it clicks.
Your palette is signature. What informs your color choices? My choice of colors is intuitive. I look for particular colors in the slides I select, and then push them until they have the power or subtlety that matches what’s in my mind’s eye.
Light seems to play an essential role in your work. How do you approach it as a compositional element? I’m drawn to scenes where light is integral to the composition—whether it’s a subtle highlight that reveals the time of day or harsh sunlight that blows out the edges of forms. Light helps me convey mood and structure at the same time.
Do you work in series, or are you guided more by individual moments? I’m guided more by individual moments, but as my image collection grows, I often notice groupings that work well together. Those patterns may then inform series within my work..
Are your paintings autobiographical, or do you see them more as collective memory? A bit of both. I’m constantly figuring out why certain images draw me in. Often it’s autobiographical in a roundabout way, but more than anything, it’s about collective memory—those shared emotional undercurrents we all recognize.
What kinds of viewer reactions stay with you the most? It means a lot when someone feels moved emotionally, especially when a painting reminds them of a moment with family or friends that left an impression. That kind of connection is really special to me.
What’s creatively exciting you right now—a new theme, medium, or challenge? I’m interested in the idea of timelessness—what experiences or images transcend time. I want to explore that more deeply in my work.
Are there ideas or subjects you’ve hesitated to explore but are now ready to tackle? It’s always daunting to take on controversial themes. I’ve painted a few pieces involving guns, and the reactions were immediate and emotional. People don’t always take the time to sit with the work. But I’m interested in exploring subjects that provoke layered responses—even if they’re uncomfortable.
What’s one aspect of your practice you’re currently rethinking or experimenting with? I’m always refining my processes. My assistant helps me stay organized, and that’s made a huge difference. Removing frustration makes more room for magic. I also like experimenting with tools and finding unconventional ways to get the effects I want.
How do you find inspiration during quieter periods between projects? I actually find those in-between times inspiring. Traveling and having new experiences gives me additional perspective. Stepping back lets me see my work differently and come back to it with fresh eyes.
What do you ultimately hope your paintings say—about memory, place, or the passage of time? I think it’s a reminder to be present so we don’t miss those quiet, beautiful moments while they’re happening. But it’s also about how we often don’t realize how meaningful something was until we look back at it years later and think, Wow, that was incredible.
How would someone find you on social media? jessica_brilli_artist
