Jessica utilizes drawings and installations with antique objects to transform spaces into psychological realms that are suggestive of maternal figures and ancestral and social narratives. Starting with the concept of the living room as the first gallery or museum space, Jessica seeks to explore conversations related to historical recollection and memory. Initially, living room chairs represented matriarchal presence and have currently expanded to ancestry. Jessica’s work addresses issues in identity, heritage, culture, and society’s rapidly disintegrating connection to the past.
In performance, Jessica's body becomes a catalyst for altering the social dynamic of a space. Every aspect of her presence is considered important to the ephemeral work, from the details within the antebellum era clothing (inspired by the drawings of chairs) to the object-filled vessels that are carried during the performance. Whether the audience is inside of a gallery or on a sidewalk outside, Jessica's presence silently demands attention through slow and graceful movements. During Jessica's presence, the physical and social self (or character) creates a psychological mark within the room and in the audience upon its completion.