Jess Sallay-Carrington is a sculptural ceramic artist creating figurative works of human behaviour. Jess has mainly focused on how feminism, sexuality and gender are presented and expressed in modern western society. As a queer and non-binary individual, Jess’ work reflects experiences from this perspective. Through ceramic sculpture, they dismantle taboos and stigmas around the diverse expressions of gender and sexuality, while promoting self confidence and body positivity. By creating nude figures Jess questions the shame that individuals are taught to have about their own bodies.
The inclusion of zoomorphism in Jess' work display’s the hidden parts of human identities. Using animals to represent certain human behaviour and emotions, as every animal comes with its own story and associations. A creature that, through sculpture, exposes a part of the figure’s character which might not be apparent at first glance.
Jess Sallay-Carrington is a sculptural ceramic artist originating from Vancouver BC but spent the last decade living and working in Montreal QC. Jess is a queer and non-binary artist. In 2014 they graduated from Concordia University with a BFA in ceramics. Jess has attended many artist residencies, traveling around North America and Europe. Residencies such as C.R.E.T.A Rome, Torpedo Factory Art Centre, and Tolne Gjæstgivergaard. They have been a part of many group exhibitions, at galleries such as the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, C.R.E.T.A. Gallery, and the Clay Center of New Orleans. Jess has had several solo exhibitions in recent years, such as NuQueer Power at Fatale Art Gallery, Co(R)vid Calluses at Galerie ERGA, as well as an upcoming exhibition called Adapting, at Maison de la Culture Côte-des-Neiges. They have been featured in publications such as CBC Exhibitionists, New York’s ArtTour International Magazine, and Ceramique: 90 Artistes Contemporarian. Jess has been awarded grants from SODEC and CALQ, as well as being a finalist for the Winifred Shantz Award for 2020 and 2021. Jess is pursuing their Masters Degree at the University of Washington, to be completed in 2023.