We were lucky to catch up with Jessie Keating recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jessie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
So far, the most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my Master of Fine Art studio thesis, called “The Internally Obvious.” I created an installation centered on a painting of my body facing a full-length mirror. The painting of my body was nude except for the mobility aids that I wear under my clothing. I aimed to inspire viewers to interact meaningfully with the painting and their reflections.
Like many women, I have always grappled with my confidence, which is wrapped up in my appearance. I exist in a larger, disabled body and struggle to untangle my perceived worth from the way I look. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent several months in a hospital program for my eating disorder and acute suicidality. Part of my recovery process was beginning to process a lifetime of trauma through my MFA studies.
During my MFA program, I focused on queer theory and feminist studies. I learned to accept and love my queerness despite a lifetime of fighting it. Instead of continuing to conform to the idea of heteronormativity and unrealistic societal expectations of my appearance, I decided to create art that directly confronts and draws attention to what it means for my body to be presented in a gallery space typically reserved for societally attractive, thin, and non-disabled people.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a lifelong artist, although it was in the last decade or so that I began to create art consistently. I am a mother to two delightful teenagers, and although I worked throughout their young childhoods, I struggled to find my place. I spent several years as an elementary art teacher, creating commissions on the side, ultimately leaving that position due to stress and budget cuts. When the pandemic hit, I was forced to figure out what I wanted to do, and I chose to pursue a professional art career.
One unique thing about me is my ability to connect to others through shared traumatic experiences. Having spent so much time healing from my traumatic past, I want to empower other people impacted by childhood abuse and trauma, anti-fat bias, domestic violence, and mental health issues. One way that I can give back to the community is to find ways to facilitate accessibility to art to bring about social justice.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal is always to help bring about social justice for those more marginalized than myself. I am always searching for ways to facilitate accessibility to art through free or reduced-price admission, inexpensive art prints, and empowering others to create their own art practice.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing my community come together through the art I have created. Setting up interactive installations and watching people see my art through their eyes is an incredible experience and something I’d be hard-pressed to find through other careers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessiekeatingartist.com
- Instagram: @jessiekeatingart
- Linkedin: Jessie Keating