Robert Jesson

Born in Auckland, Robert Jesson studied in the UK at Norwich School of Art, with David Nash, later working for Anthony Caro and Phillip King. He returned to Aotearoa in 1977.

He exhibited in Auckland, at the Closet Artists Gallery (Queen Street) in 1981, and at the Peter McLeavey Gallery, Wellington, the following year. There his work was described as part of a 'return to objects' with the passing of the Post-Object art movement demonstrated in the art of Billy Apple, Philip Dadson and Andrew Drummond. In his review Neil Rowe described Robert’s work as sculpture "in a painterly mode from Matisse and the Expressionists through to Frank Stella."

Jesson’s first exhibition in Christchurch opened in 1983, at the Robert McDougall Gallery, which John Hurrell described as energetic, with "surging vitality of its aggressive shapes." The works were largely flat, painted assemblages of plywood, string and dyed-linen.

In 1983 Jesson was commissioned to produce a mural for the Remuera Public Library only for it to be deemed inappropriate after the unveiling. After much controversy, Mrs Cath Tizard declared removal of the work would be like censoring a book, and that the hanging must remain in place.

In 1985 Robert was awarded $5000 from the McMillan Motor Company, in a competition judged by Warwick Brown. In his discussion of the judging process Warwick described Robert’s winning piece, 'Bailing Moon,' as "possib[ly] … mutated freaks, stirring in post-nuclear ash." This work was an example of Robert’s wrapped starfish works, similar to the public artwork ’Starfish' (1985). In 1987 Robert moved to Melbourne and appears to have ended his artistic practice.

He passed away in Te Puke in 2015.

See also:

• Neil Rowe, 'The object comes back,' Evening Post, 25 March, 1982.
• John Hurrell, 'Effectiveness thwarted', Christchurch Press, 10 February, 1983.
• 'Robert Jesson' (exhibition), City Gallery Wellington, 22 October–20 November 1983. [exhibition notes updated]
• 'Robert Jesson' (profile), Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
• Warwick Brown, 'Why Jesson won $5000,’ New Zealand Times. 16 June 1985.