BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Throughout his forty years as an artist,  Michael (aka Mixa) Jessing has expressed his responses to personal and social issues in his art.   By using allegory (visual metaphors), and mythological themes, he has created poetic visual narratives built upon imaginative compositional structures. These paintings and drawings are journeys  within a  figurative format.  Jessing has been influenced by artists such as William Blake, Goya, Botticelli, and Giotto.  The works represented here are from several recent series based on various subjects.  They include his Babylon Prophecies, illustrations to the complete Book of Psalms, illustrated narratives (entitled "cozmix") based on Sumerian myths, and his geometric spatial abstractions called "Organic Allegories."  As well as these series of paintings, Jessing has worked on icons  and murals.

In a recent mural project, he  has painted three large gilded panels of “A Procession of Angels” for St. Peter’s Church,  Peebles, Scotland.   His mural based on the poem "Black Gold," - by John Lindsay, won the Three Harbour Mural Competition 2009 - Prestonpans, Scotland.

His illustrations to the complete  Book of  Psalms  have been exhibited in York Minster Library and Chichester Cathedral in 2008.  They were also exhibited in  Wells Cathedral in 2009 and Carlisle Cathedral in 2010.

Jessing was born in New York City, studied at the Art Students League under Robert Brackman.  He began exhibiting in the United States in galleries and museums in New York and Ohio in the 80's. He moved to Scotland in the 90's where he has had exhibtions in Edinburgh, Carlisle and London among other places. it was in the first decade of this century that he developed his skills in mural painting and icons. This has been a means of exploring both inner contemplative themes (icons) and more outgoing public concepts (murals). 

He works part time as an art teacher in the Scottish Borders, where he encourages people with mental health issues towards creative expression. 

He has led numerous workshops and given talks on various areas of the visual arts about which he is passionate.   These include portraiture,* symbolism and icon painting.

*Example of portraits by the artist can be found at http://sites.google.com/portraitsbyjessing/home

For further information contact the artist at mixastudio@hotmail.co.uk

Michael Jessing     "Black Inanna"    Oil on Canvas    36 x 58"     2008