The intimate paintings of Australian artist Jess Cochrane render snapshots of contemporary life with thick, layered brushstrokes, much like Van Gogh's impasto technique. Moving between still lifes of fruit, moonlit landscapes, and portraits of her friends by the swimming pool, the London-based artist uses rich patterns and bright colors in her depictions of these quotidian scenes.
The resemblance to Van Gogh's portraiture is particularly evident in Post Sun (2024): showing a friend, depicted in profile, smoking a cigarette in Morocco. The portrait is ornamented by daubs of white paint that create a flowing pattern emanating from the figure, reminiscent of Van Gogh's blue Self-Portrait (1889). Meanwhile, in Bowl of Citrus on a Balcony Ledge (2024), the swirling brushstrokes and bright oranges recall Van Gogh's still lifes, particularly Still Life with Basket and Six Oranges (1888). These works were featured in Cochrane's solo exhibition "It Won't Last Forever" at Gillian Jason Gallery in September 2024.
After initially studying graphic design at the University of Canberra, Cochrane decided to pursue painting at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Since graduating in 2015, the artist has presented two solo exhibitions at Rhodes in London before her most recent show at Gillian Jason Gallery.
