MICHAEL JESS

Portraiture / Fine Art / Social Documentary / Conceptual

I am presently exhibiting ‘Divine’ - for the Artists Open House Dulwich Festival. Divine is a ground breaking project of portraits portraying black yoga masters in visually dramatic African nuanced styles.

I am the founder of Re/Frame: Photographers on the frontline of identity (2022). A collective of critical practitioners shining a spotlight on contemporary culture.

I was also a founding member of Autograph: the long established, Association of Black Photographers. I have a broad media background and worked as a reporter for Britain’s largest selling black newspaper The Voice and as a researcher on numerous documentaries for BBC and C4 television.

I studied at the London College of Printing and PCL under Victor Burgin, who emphasised the intimate link between words and pictures. My style is also influenced by photographic masters such as George Rodgers, Gordon Parks, Vanessa Winship and Malick Sidibe. I teach a number of University of the Arts London (UAL) accredited courses in photography.

Travel: Belgium, Scotland, Germany, United States of America, France, Holland, Jamaica and Ghana.

‘Fine giclee art prints of Divine - yoga portraits & the Light Masques series can be purchased on line.’