James Jessiman

British sculptor, educator, writer and editor based in London, known for merging natural motifs with science fiction aesthetics and antiquarian references. His work explores desire, transmission, and the relationships between humans and objects. He grew up in Scarborough within a family of antique dealers, which sparked an early interest in objects, scarcity, and collecting. He studied at Leeds College of Art, obtained a BA in Illustration from Kingston University, and later completed an MA in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art. His practice focuses on sculptural works based on floral forms such as tulips and orchids, cast in painted bronze or polished metal to create “beacons” and portals of longing. Among his key influences are the Tulip Mania of the 1630s, Jean Baudrillard’s theories on collecting, and early twentieth-century Viennese cold-painted bronzes. His work is also informed by research-based travel, including tulip grasslands in Uzbekistan and a 2025 research visit to Lake Titicaca in Peru. Notable works include Terraformer (2023), a series of invented tulip species cast in bronze presented in Miami, and Gates of Desire (I) & (II) (2025), his first outdoor installation commissioned for Frieze Studios’ Modern Nature programme on Sloane Street, exploring the dynamic between transmitter and receiver in the pursuit of desire. Jessiman is also a patron and curator of 020 Desk Zero, a 24-hour poetry telephone line inspired by 1960s projects such as Dial-a-Poem. He additionally runs Desk Zero publishing, which will release titles including Running with Words by Steve Belowsky and Wrongness by Ruth Novaczek in 2026.