An illustration of a figure with a grey, textured face and a third eye on their forehead. They are draped in voluminous, flowing yellow fabric and surrounded by floating, multicoloured neon lines against a dark, starry sky.

Cosmic fantasy artwork by Jesse Fillingham

Words: Liv Siddall
—
Date: 3 September 2014; Work
Illustration

Cosmic brilliance here from Jesse Fillingham, whose fantastical work is sending shivers all over me this morning. His confident line images seem to draw inspiration from teen sci-fi novels, video games, Shakespeare and the work of Roger Dean, bringing it all together to form a heady combination of past and future. Jesse graduated back in 2010 from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has since been exhibiting his work across American and Europe to what I can only imagine are die-hard fans. If you find yourself lost in the bizarre nature of his Kate Bush digital image or the transient surreality of Cosmic Contemplation 2, take your eyeballs for a gander at his simple line drawings. Extract / Sunset / Pointer is insanely well-drawn and I can’t stop looking at it. One for the “favourites” folder I think.

An illustration of a figure in flowing white robes walking across a fallen log. They carry a lantern in one hand and a wooden tool over their shoulder against a blue background. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: E.T.A.

An illustration of a distorted, melting face in shades of orange and yellow. The figure is pierced by several thin white lines emanating from two colourful geometric squares in the top corners. — Above
Jesse Fillingham:

A blue line illustration of a surreal figure with a distorted face and an elongated, skeletal arm. The figure holds a thin circular hoop that frames their head and hand. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: 2B-/2B

A black and white line illustration of a figure draped in a cloth, lying on a platform. One arm reaches out to balance a glass sphere in their palm. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Antidote / Seeker / Vision / Process

A line drawing of a person’s head emerging from a floor in a sparse room. A pipe connects the person’s head to a brain resting on a small plinth. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Antidote / Seeker / Vision / Process

A line drawing of a surreal laboratory. Complex glass tubes and flasks are connected by pipes, with a floating head and a small creature suspended in the centre. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Antidote / Seeker / Vision / Process

A line illustration of a figure in flowing robes floating in a surreal, box-like room. The figure reaches down towards a tiled floor, while a small eye watches from a square opening in the ceiling. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Exctract / Sunset / Pointer

An illustration of a distorted, yellow organic shape that resembles a melting face. It floats above a pink surface against a blue gradient background, framed by a yellow and red border. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Mull Skelt

An illustration of a melting, purple wax figure in a bright yellow room. A single flame burns from the top of the figure’s head. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Mandle Can

A digital collage of a purple skull floating against a textured green background. A small, multi-coloured geometric shape sits atop the skull, while a dark shadow is cast on the striped floor below. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Flight of the Philosopher

An illustration of a figure draped in a flowing, molten yellow cloak that swirls around them. They have a grey face and blue glowing antennae, floating against a starry night sky. — Above
Jesse Fillingham: Cosmic Contemplation 2

Further Info

www.jessefillingham.com

About the Author

Liv Siddall

—

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

Cosmic fantasy artwork by Jesse Fillingham

Share Article

Further Info

About the Author

Related content

From wax seals to postal stamps, Aplomb perfume’s packaging has the intimacy of a handwritten letter

Artwork for anyone that’s looking: Bill Rebholz on taking ‘trash’ and turning it into beautiful vernacular signs

Mona Chalabi on making sense of the unmeasurable

Affinity and Cavalry give creatives somewhere to create freely… and for free

It's Nice That Newsletters