Jessica Taft is a Melbourne-based artist whose practice explores the emotional resonance of nature through oil, watercolour, and mixed media.

Jessica studied fine art part-time for 8 years with Margarita Krivitsky, and learned the classical techniques in drawing, oil painting and watercolour painting. Her training emphasised portraiture and still life, from which she expanded into landscapes, seascapes and abstract realism. Jess undertook further training in oil painting at an art school in Florence, Italy, where she completed an intensive two-month program. Her artistic training followed on from a combined degree of a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws with Honours, and a PhD, at Monash University. Today, Jess balances her dual careers as a senior lawyer and as a visual artist, bringing analytical clarity and emotional depth to her practice.

Her work blends abstract expression with classical realism and fine detail. Each artwork is skilfully rendered by building layers of fluid washes, opaque textures, glazing and fine details. The finished work is intimate and relatable, as well as beautifully decorative.

Jess’ artwork can be found in a number of private collections around Australia, and she has participated in several group exhibitions and events at Yarra Sculpture Gallery and Space2b in Melbourne. Jess also takes on a limited number of commissions each year.