Jessica Weiss holds a bachelor’s degree from BYU and a master’s degree from the University of Utah, both in Art History. She has worked at the BYU Museum of Art and at Sotheby’s Auction House in London. A resident of Salt Lake City, Jessica currently works as the Associate Curator of Education and Art at the Springville Museum of Art and serves on the board of the Utah Art Education Association.

 Describe something you remember hanging on the wall in your home growing up:

Growing up, we had my grandfather’s paintings hanging all over the house. He was an amateur painter, and today I recognize the lack of refined skill in his work, yet each of his works holds a special memory for me. His paintings remind me of him and my childhood, and to this day he is one of the most important influences on my life as an art professional. He painted because he loved it, and he found beauty everywhere – I find that very inspiring.

What are you reading?

I just traded at the library Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (which was lovely), for Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures by Robert K. Wittman (so excited to read!).

If you could choose someone to paint or sculpt your portrait (living or dead) who would it be?

If I was choosing a living artist, Burton Silverman seems the obvious choice. His works are always imbued with so much character and expression that I feel he truly conveys the personality of his subjects unlike any other. If I get to choose a deceased artist, it is really hard not to simply choose John Singer Sargent, because he makes all of his subjects look amazing.

On the Spot

This is our chance to check in with members of Utah’s art community to see what they’ve been reading, seeing, doing.