JESS PICKERING STUDIO

‘FEMINIST SEMIOTICS’ INSTALLATION

09/12/24

performed @ California Institute of the Arts

Ceramic tile & archive installation
Performed by Ginger Hobbs and Sheang-li Pung 

Photographed by Sophie Darling

All archive material shown was coutersy of the California Insitute of the Arts libary and special collections. ‘Feminist Semiotics’ is a challenge to representation. It questions existing systems that enforce the patriarchy, by using semiotics as a vehicle for opposition.

The installation is formed by text from statements collected in response to the question: what do you know or feel about the commodification of female bodies, and has this ever led to you being objectified? The collective experiences are appropriated into Saussure’s diagram of signification, as language isn’t arbitrary but a social construct that underpins the disenfranchisement of gender marginalized communities.

The intention is to tackle the constant question of how we work with and against an existing system that determines our portrayal and perception, without reinforcing the patriarchy.

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CONTACT

Based in Glasgow, Scotland

EMAIL Jessicapickering156@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM jesspickering_art




ARTIST STATEMENT

I am currently studying BA (hons) Sculpture and Environmental Art at the Glasgow School of Art, with a semester abroad at the California Institute of the Arts.

My practice is inspired by the intersections between Feminism, archives and Semiotics, which I translate into visual art through auto-destructive installations. Works are often contextualised against Feminist archives, oral histories and statements I’ve collected on experiences of objectification. The intention being, to tackle the constant question of how to work with and against existing systems that determine our portrayal and perception without reinforcing the patriarchy.
CV




ARTIST CV
Education 
BA (Hons) in Sculpture and Environmental art at Glasgow School of Art. 2023-2026

California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles California, US on exchange program. 2024

Publications and Features
‘Feminist Semiotics’ artist book in the collection of the Los Angeles Contemporary Archive and the California Institute of the Arts library and special collections.

‘Feminist Semiotics’ installation documentation in the collection of the California Institute of the Arts library and special collections.

Work featured in Glasgow School of Arts Gallery society’s Nightshift exhibition publication 

‘Feminist Semiotics’#2 documentation in the Strangefield archive collection

‘Return to Sender’ exhibition documentation in Strangefield archive collection
Exhibitions 
Leavers. Group exhibition at the North Wall Art Centre, oxford. 2023

21 Classical Paintings. Group exhibition with the Sculpture and Environmental 2026 cohort at the Grace & Fyfe Clark gallery, Glasgow . 2023

Stretch. Group exhibition with Sculpture and Environmental 2026 cohort at the Garage space in the Glasgow School of Art. 2024

Nightshift. Selected group exhibition by the Glasgow School of Arts gallery society at the New Glasgow Society. 2024

‘Feminist Semiotics’. Solo exhibition and curation at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles California, US. 2025

Inquiry at Heart. Group exhibition at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles California, US. 2025

Feminist Quilting. Group exhibition at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles California, US. 2025

‘Never go out’ Fundariser. ‘Feminist Semiotics’ film selected to be exhibited at SWG3, Glasgow. 2025

‘Return to sender’. Exhibited, curated and organised for exchange students in the Sculpture and Environmental art 2026 cohort at Strangefield, Glasgow. 2025

Talks
In conversation artist talk with Claire Barclay on the Womenhouse projects in Los Angles and Castlemilk. Garnethill multicultural centre, Glasgow. 2025

Other 

Experience in lithography, etching and screen-printing 

Experience in wood & metal workshop machinery 

Experience in ceramic workshops

Experience in Adobe photoshop
Experience in teaching guided art classes