Many people recognize Jesi as our community’s preeminent portrait artist. But her artworks span various genres beyond portraiture, including, still life, landscape, seascape, floral, abstract, and nonobjective.

Faces & More is a representation of Jesi’s creations and teachings over 53 years. Her collection is so vast and impressive that we are showcasing her retrospective work in two locations. The new Y Community Gallery at the YMCA will exhibit her larger portraits while The Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation gallery at The Alexander Black House will highlight her smaller scale work, most of which has never been publicly displayed. Jesi’s passion for art and education over the years has led her to teaching in Montgomery County schools, leading multi-day Plein Air Watercolor workshops, and planning enrichment courses overseas in France, where she guides participants through the composition of stunning scenes from Avignon, Aix en Provence, Arles, Aigues Mortes, Uzes, Nime, and more.

Join us for our closing reception of Faces & More on Friday, February 7 from 5-8pm at both the Y Gallery and BMCF’s Alexander Black House during the Downtown Art Walk.