John John Jesse is a mixed media artist who draws inspiration from his punk rock beginnings as the bass player in seminal New York City crust punk band Nausea. Since the dissolution of Nausea, John John Jesse went on to show in countless galleries around the world as well as find his work featured in the pages of magazines like Juxtapoz, Rolling Stone and many more.
1xRun: When did you first start making art?
John John Jesse: I was a young punk rocker making flyers for punk and hardcore bands in the 80’s and 90s. But I always loved drawing as a kid. I drew Spiderman, Woody Woodpecker, Batman, Casper, Scooby Doo and Star Wars.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? How about now?
John John Jesse: To this day it is Jamie Reid, who did the cut and paste artwork of the Sex Pistols in the late 1970s.His work inspired the entire look of what all punk art would be like to this day. Now I love the old masters like Caravaggio.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
John John Jesse: It’s either TV or music, that’s usually punk and hardcore. Sometimes 80s new wave too.
1xRun: Can you bring us up to speed since your last release with us a few years back?
John John Jesse: I just had a successful packed solo art show last month in Soho, New York City at Opera Gallery. It was complete with my entire studio here implanted as an installation at the gallery.
1xRun: What other things have you been up lately?
John John Jesse: Collecting and shooting antique old west firearms. Old Colts, Smith & Wessons and Winchesters.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
John John Jesse: – Website – Facebook – Blog –
-1xRUN