Jesse Willems

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About

Jesse Willems (°1984) has an interest in exploring the boundaries between the figurative and abstract aspects of street life. When his great grandfather left him a collection of 800 old National Geographic magazines, he started scanning them, looking for tiny abstractions in photographs from the fifties. Thus creating contemporary collages, while working with 70 year old materials. In both his photography and collage work, he works in this same manner. Scanning the streets for small fragments of everyday life, often overlooked, enlarging them until their beauty can no longer be overlooked. This first resulted in the series The future – and other jet age inventions.

This first solo show was a pivoting point toward an even more abstract view on everyday life. Inspired by the 1920’s avant-gardist movement, and the stoic philosophy of Epictetus, his work took a more personal approach, closer towards the needs felt in 21st century life. His work got smaller, leaving more space for silence. Ultimately leading to the series Chresis ton phantasion. The rational testing of different impressions, to see whether or not they deserve our assent. By eliminating all clutter, all that remains is the few fragments worth remembering.

 

In 2017 his work was also on show at MAS Museum Antwerp (Antwerpen à la carte) and the Belgian Embassy in Kinshasa, Congo (Barak Friture).

2018 brought an exhibit at Native Auctions in Brussels.

2019 has been a busy year. Jesse’s work was part of the group show Belgian Contemporary Collages at  Verbeke Foundation. He had his biggest solo show up until now, Eden, at Schönfeld Gallery. A selection of his work was on show at Art The Hague, Paper Positions München and Luxembourg Art Week.

The collage he made for hip-hopartist Coely was awarded the Marc Meulemans Award (Best Artwork) and a nomination for Best Artwork at the Music Industry Awards (MIA’s).

 

His first book Barak Friture was published in the fall of 2014, selling both in Europe as in the US, UK and Asia. The book was on display in stores such as Colette in Paris, and Tate Modern in London.

Jesse’s work is in the collections of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Verbeke Foundation, MAS Museum Antwerp, private collections throughout Europe, and has appeared in publications such as Billboard magazine (US), The New York Times (US), The Times (UK), The Guardian (UK), De Volkskrant (NL), …

Clients include: Antwerp Royal Museum of Fine Arts, FoMu, University of Antwerp, MAS Museum Antwerp, Brussels Airlines, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, and through different agencies he has worked for brands such as Bpost, Proximus, Microsoft, Red Cross, Carrefour, Lidl, Johnson & Johnson, …

He lives in Antwerp with his girlfriend and an ever growing collection of paintings and plants. He enjoys surfing and writing about himself in third person.

© 2019 Jesse Willems

Contact

For more information about his work or any inquiries, please contact Jesse:



© Sebastiaan Beysen

Category: Photographs

Photograph Kunstberg by Jesse Willems

Kunstberg

15 October 2018
by Jesse Willems
Photograph BOHO by Jesse Willems

BOHO

15 October 2018
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Mondrian storefront' by Jesse Willems.

Mondrian storefront

11 February 2017
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Mondrian suit' by Jesse Willems.

Mondrian suit

20 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
The beauty of not being sold anything by Jesse Willems.

The beauty of not being sold anything II

19 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of Belgian designer Dries Van Noten by Jesse Willems.

Dries Van Noten

17 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of French actor Vincent Cassel by Jesse Willems.

Vincent Cassel

15 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Blue Girls' by Jesse Willems.

Blue girl

12 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Twisted necks and sexy calls' by Jesse Willems

Twisted necks and sexy calls

11 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph Twisted necks and sexy calls II by Jesse Willems

Twisted necks and sexy calls II

11 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of Dutch chef Sergio Herman by Jesse Willems.

Sergio Herman

9 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Belgian jazz musician and composer Toots Thielemans, holding a harmonica in his hands.

Toots Thielemans

7 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph The publication of intimate letters that were never intended for publication is not permissible among persons of honour by Jesse Willems

The publication of intimate letters that were never intended for publication is not permissible among persons of honour

6 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Smoker's reflect' by Jesse Willems.

Smoker’s reflect

2 November 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of American actor Willem Dafoe by Jesse Willems.

Willem Dafoe

30 October 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of British designer sir Paul Smith by Jesse Willems.

Sir Paul Smith

5 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt by Jesse Willems.

Usain Bolt

3 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph 'Brussels' by Jesse Willems

Brussels

2 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph Pocketful of spring I by Jesse Willems

Pocketful of spring I

2 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph Pocketful of spring II by Jesse Willems

Pocketful of spring II

2 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Photograph Famara by Jesse Willems

Famara

1 January 2016
by Jesse Willems
Portrait of Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck by Jesse Willems.

Walter Van Beirendonck

1 January 2016
by Jesse Willems