The Maddox Gallery (UK) has named Jessica Brilli one of 5 Contemporary Artists to Watch in 2025 in the article "Meet The Rising Stars who are Shaping the Future of Contemporary Art" —
The work of Jessica Brilli, artist and ex-graphic designer, is steeped in nostalgia. Predicted to be a powerful force in the art world in 2025, she draws on memories of her childhood in Long Island, New York, to create her retro-inspired works. Brilli’s paintings are wrapped in the familiarity of days gone by. A comfort blanket for our complex times, her soothing colour palette evokes the beauty of faded photographs, triggering long-forgotten memories in the viewer.
Deeply influenced by Edward Hopper, Brilli’s style is evocative of early 20th century American Realism. Her historically rich portrayals of American life in the 1950s, 60s and 70s offer a vivid reflection of the American Dream and its complexities, which are revealed only as we mature. Infused with a haunting sense of loneliness, the introspective nature of her practice gives each work a cinematic quality that is both tasteful and timeless.
Like many artists, Brilli had a successful career before she transitioned to painting full-time. A graphic designer at Harvard University(This link opens in a new tab). for close to 20 years, she uses her innate understanding of colour, shape and form to create her compelling compositions. Awarded an acclaimed Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant(This link opens in a new tab). in 2021, she showed her paintings for the first time in the UK in 2023. In September 2024, she made her solo UK debut with the exhibition Dreamstate at our Berkeley Street gallery. Featuring a glossy and melancholic series of 24 Jessica Brilli paintings, it was a near sellout and a huge success for this talented artist. Currently creating two new works for the Maddox group show Connecting Outcomes (16th January-1st March 2025), watch out for a series of exclusive collaborations between Maddox and Brilli in the year ahead.