Jessica Rice was born in Antwerp, Belgium, for centuries the traditional center of Flemish Masters. Jessica’s first oils were painted in Central Africa, where as a young girl she was inspired by the angularity perceived in African art, and by her father’s photographs. Her raw talent blossomed in the tropical surroundings. Unfettered by formal training, her images leaned towards cubist-nativism.
Jessica was drawn towards the diverse style of early 20th century avant-garde movement: the primitive and lush primary colors, strong distinctive brush strokes and use of new tools such as the palette knife. Her solid figures of heroic dimensions are wrapped in a pervasive nostalgia. Native landscapes, family gatherings, crowded restaurants, craftsmen and domestic scenes reveal a romanticized version of social realism.
