Artist Statement

I believe that where there is life, there is hope.

As an artist, I express this perspective through figurative and abstract works of acrylic on canvas. I draw inspiration from nature and from my travels. My work often centers around the idea of rebirth, and I seek to convey through color, line, and shape the range of emotions that this concept activates.

I study the elements of nature and the ways in which they move, interact, and transform, then explore these themes in my abstract work, often portraying the positive emotional impact of nature on people.

The ideas and emotions awakened during my travels to places like Ireland and Pompeii inspire much of my figurative art.

Artist Bio

Jessie I Banaszak is a Milwaukee-based artist creating original abstract and figurative acrylic-on-canvas paintings.  Her calling as an artist dates to her childhood, and a summer camp class sparked her specific interest in painting. She earned a BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts, where she also studied ceramics and sculpture.

An independent artist since 2002, Jessie previously spent 13 years deploying her creative talents as a retail visual display manager, first at Boston Store and later at Kohl's Department Store. 

Jessie's work has appeared in a variety of Milwaukee-area venues, including Fusion Galleries in Walker's Point, the Eclectic I Gallery in Bayside, and the INOVA and Union gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her work was featured in two local solo exhibitions, at Stella's Salon in Washington Heights and at marketing agency Square 2 Marketing in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, as well as in an art show at Whitefish Bay Library. Third Ward retailer Shoo commissioned Jessie to create four large-scale shoe paintings for store display. Many Milwaukee-area businesses and residents also own original paintings by Jessie.

In July of 2016, Jessie was invited to be part of a collective exhibition (Dynamic Visions) at Agora Gallery in New York, NY. Jessie’s artwork was on Agora Gallery’s website for one year (2016-2017). Her paintings were included in volume 35 and 37 of The ARTisSpectrum magazine.

March of 2019, Jessie was asked to participate in an art exhibition ( Arte Donna) at Galleria 360 in Florence, Italy. Jessie’s artwork can be found on Galleria 360’s website and will be displayed until spring of 2020.

Jessie is a native of New York City and currently calls Milwaukee home, although she travels as frequently as possible to gain inspiration for new works.