Jess Stephens
A graduate in animation from UCA Farnham, Jess Stephens specialises in 2D animation from digital approaches to traditional materials such as oil pastels, pencils and paint. Stephens' work is informed by poetry and oral history, and is inspired by the possibilities of animation as a tool for documentary filmmaking. With few photographs or videos from their mother’s childhood, Windrush (2022) used animation to fill the gaps to tell a moving story of migration from Barbados to the UK and life in the diaspora.
Their films have screened at festivals including Student World Impact Film Festival (Ontario) and Reel to Reality Film Festival. Jess co-founded the animation collective Lavender Haus, with whom they have directed several short films.
Portrait of Jess Stephens. Courtesy of the artist.
Watch: Jess Stephens, Windrush (2022), excerpt
Jess Stephens, Windrush (2022), stills
Watch: Jess Stephens, The Itch (2023), excerpt
Jess Stephens, The Itch (2023), stills
