Overview
Jess (Burgess Franklin Collins) was born in Long Beach, California in 1923 and died in San Francisco in 2004. His 50-year art-making practice centered on appropriation, and included collage, painting, drawing, assemblage and poetry. Synthesizing literature, mythology and the language and images of popular culture, he transformed the everyday into fantastical narratives, creating one of the most original bodies of work to come out of the American 20th Century.
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Works
  • Jess (Collins), Stillbourne, c. 1951
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    Jess (Collins)
    Stillbourne, c. 1951
    oil on canvas with artist's velvet trim at edges
    51 x 39 1/2 in
    129.5 x 100.3 cm
  • Jess (Collins), Game's Up, 1981
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    Jess (Collins)
    Game's Up, 1981
    jigsaw collage
    28 1/2 x 33 1/2 in
    72.4 x 85.1 cm
  • Jess (Collins), Translated detail for "Salvages III", 1972
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    Jess (Collins)
    Translated detail for "Salvages III", 1972
    pencil on paper in the artist's frame
    5 1/2 x 6 1/2 in
    14 x 16.5 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), Net Maker, 1960
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    Jess (Collins)
    Net Maker, 1960
    paste-up
    31 x 22 1/4 in
    78.7 x 56.5 cm
  • Jess (Collins), One of the Norns Is Dead, 1955/71
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    Jess (Collins)
    One of the Norns Is Dead, 1955/71
    oil on canvas in artist's frame
    33 1/4 x 47 1/4 in
    84.5 x 120 cm
  • Jess (Collins), Untitled, 1955-56
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    Jess (Collins)
    Untitled, 1955-56
    acrylic on primed canvas (double-sided)
    84 x 73 in
    213.4 x 185.4 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), French Sentiment, 1955
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    Jess (Collins)
    French Sentiment, 1955
    oil on canvas
    15 1/8 x 18 in
    38.4 x 45.7 cm
  • Untitled (Suited Man Holding Key), framed
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    Jess (Collins)
    Untitled (Suited Man Holding Key), 1955
    pasteup in artist's frame
    frame 13 1/2 x 10 3/4 in / 34.3 x 27.3 cm
  • Jess (Collins), The Visitation (II), 1955
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    Jess (Collins)
    The Visitation (II), 1955
    oil on canvas in the artist's frame
    26 x 24 in
    86.4 x 55.9 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), One of the Norns Is Dead, 1955/71
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    Jess (Collins)
    One of the Norns Is Dead, 1955/71
    oil on canvas in artist's frame
    33 1/4 x 47 1/4 in
    84.5 x 120 cm
  • Framed abstract painting with pastel color palette
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    Jess (Collins)
    Sea Cove, 1952
    oil on canvas in artist's velvet wrapped frame
    frame 19 1/2 x 25 1/2 in / 49.5 x 64.8 cm
  • Prison Isle, framed
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    Jess (Collins)
    Prison Isle, 1954
    oil on canvas on board in artist's frame
    frame 13 x 17 in / 33 x 43.2 cm
  • Jess (Collins), Book Cover for Norma Cole's Mars, 1993
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    Jess (Collins)
    Book Cover for Norma Cole's Mars, 1993
    pasteup
    8 1/2 x 12 3/4 in
    21.6 x 32.4 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), Cover for Credences 1, 1974
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    Jess (Collins)
    Cover for Credences 1, 1974
    pasteup
    9 x 14 in
    22.9 x 35.6 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), Boob #1, 1952
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    Jess (Collins)
    Boob #1, 1952
    pasteup
    12 3/4 x 16 1/2 in
    32.4 x 41.9 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), Untitled (Pooh Figure), 1953
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    Jess (Collins)
    Untitled (Pooh Figure), 1953
    collage
    17 1/2 x 23 1/2 in
    44.5 x 59.7 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), A Cryogenic Consideration: Or. Sounding One Horn of the Dilemma (Winter), 1980
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    Jess (Collins)
    A Cryogenic Consideration: Or. Sounding One Horn of the Dilemma (Winter), 1980
    paper and push-pin on board over plywood
    48 x 72 in
    121.9 x 182.9 cm
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  • Jess (Collins), Mystic Writing #9, 1955
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    Jess (Collins)
    Mystic Writing #9, 1955
    handmade oil and wax crayon on paper
    11 1/2 x 11 1/4 in
    29.2 x 28.6 cm
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  • Viewed from underneath and through an old-style car's steering wheel the viewer sees two white men standing in the open car door, the front man is nude with arms behind back looking over shoulder at the viewer, man in back is fully clothed with hands resting on door and top of car, leaning past nude man's chest to stare at viewer
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    Jess (Collins)
    Untitled (Car and Male Nude), circa 1962-1969
    pasteup
    13 1/2 x 9 in
    34.3 x 22.9 cm
  • Jess (Collins), Cover for Credences 3, 1975
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    Jess (Collins)
    Cover for Credences 3, 1975
    pasteup
    8 1/2 x 14 in
    21.6 x 35.6 cm
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  • Crayon drawing of a blonde man holding a tobacco pipe to his lips; wood frame with burnt orange mat
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    Jess (Collins)
    Self-Portrait, early 1950s
    handmade oil and wax crayon on paper in artist's frame
    image 12 x 9 in / 30.5 x 22.9 cm
    frame 20 x 16 1/2 in / 50.8 x 41.9 cm
  • Brightly colored abstract vs figurative painting of greenery and flowers
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    Jess (Collins)
    Meadow Sweet, n.d.
    handmade oil and wax crayon on paperboard in artist's frame
    6 1/2 x 4 1/4 in
    16.5 x 10.8 cm
  • Sepia Pacific Telephone advertisement depicting man and woman in domestic setting with woman on phone. Greyscale man pasted in, affectionately intertwined with man and woman.
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    Jess (Collins)
    Share a Party Line?, n.d.
    pasteup
    10 3/4 x 8 1/2 in
    27.3 x 21.6 cm
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  • A vintage lamp made of found materials, featuring a canine statuette, pull chain, and flower bud-like bulb
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    Jess (Collins)
    Assembly Lamp Seven, 1963
    mixed media assemblage
    29 x 18 x 18 in
    73.7 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm
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