Jessica Whiteside

The Influence of Bettie Page

I discovered the legendary Bettie Page after stumbling into the San Francisco Burlesque scene and studying pin up photographs and art from the 1950’s. Bettie’s dark beauty with her blunt cut bangs, black hair and long legs captivated me immediately. She was photogenic and beautiful even though most of the photos you find of her were taken by amateur photographers. She is still so fascinating to me; she didn’t have the glamour, styling and lighting that the big stars had, but she was still gorgeous and candid in every shot. As an artist I have definitely romanticized her image in my work, as the ultimate representation of an Alternative American icon, and as a woman whose images really pushed the boundaries of sexuality in terms of female expression. She has been the fantasy of so many men, and I think women too. She had kind of a sweet innocence about her even holding a whip in her hand and wearing shiny black stilettos. To me, she embodies that dark, erotic, playful creature inside all of us.

About the Artist

Jessica is a graduate from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a BFA in Illustration. Jessica’s art is partially autobiographical and decidedly feminine and original – not shying away from themes of sexuality, cultural and political dissent, and modern female viewpoints on a variety of subjects. Her vivid paintings and unique feminine style have put her in the spotlight in the Neo-Burlesque art scene. Over the past few years, her art has been exhibited in a growing number of solo and group shows on the West Coast. In addition she has curated several exhibitions, ran the San Francisco chapter of Dr. Sketchy's workshop, and made many appearances on stage as a bedazzled burlesque performer

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