Biography
Jessie Makinson crafts intricate, jewel-like scenes that blend historical and folkloric environments with fantastical social portraiture. Her work features androgynous figures embedded in rich social narratives drawn from a vast network of literary and mythological references. The figures, twisting and bending at uncanny angles across unstable grounds, evoke the same sensation of funhouse mirrors, weaving 18th-century brothel scenes, Georgian parlour games, and contemporary eco sci-fi. These layered imaginaries, guided by Makinson’s chameleon storytelling voice, convey scenes of rich sociality.

Jessie Makinson (b. 1985) lives and works in London, where she completed the Drawing Year Postgraduate Program at the Royal Drawing School in 2013. Recent solo exhibitions include François Ghebaly, Los Angeles (2023, 2021); Lyles & King, New York (2023, 2021, 2020); Fabian Lang Gallery, Zürich (2019); and Galería OMR, Mexico City (2019). Recent group exhibitions include Simon Lee Gallery, London (2022); British Museum, London (2022); Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London (2021); Fabian Lang Gallery, Zürich (2021); Lyles & King, New York (2020); Victoria Miro, London (2020); Perrotin, Seoul (2019); T.J. Boulting, London (2018); and Nicodim Gallery, Bucharest (2018).
Works
  • Jessie Makinson, My head was filled with dew, 2024
    My head was filled with dew, 2024
  • Jessie Makinson, Waxing gloomy, 2024
    Waxing gloomy, 2024
  • Jessie Makinson, Sleep innocently, 2024
    Sleep innocently, 2024
  • Jessie Makinson, Sting to your bow II,, 2024
    Sting to your bow II,, 2024
  • Jessie Makinson, Ribs in ribbons, 2023
    Ribs in ribbons, 2023
  • Jessie Makinson, Popular fluff, 2023
    Popular fluff, 2023
  • Jessie Makinson, Tiny pyre, 2023
    Tiny pyre, 2023
  • Jessie Makinson, The Kings Limpet, 2023
    The Kings Limpet, 2023
  • Jessie Makinson, We shall be monsters, 2022
    We shall be monsters, 2022
  • Jessie Makinson, Fine time to be asleep, 2022
    Fine time to be asleep, 2022
  • Jessie Makinson, Come you minx, 2022
    Come you minx, 2022
  • Jessie Makinson, Queasy master, 2022
    Queasy master, 2022
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