This week, painter and installation artist, Jesse Bransford, joins me to discuss his magic and occult-inspired work. 

We discussed the meanings behind the sigils and circles he embeds in his work, his fascination with the magician Surrealist, Kurt Seligmann, and his thoughts on the role of the artist as a practitioner of vision, generosity and belief.

Find Jesse Bransford online at:

web: https://www.jessebransford.com/

ig: @jessebransford

get his book: UK: https://fulgur.co.uk/books/fourthandfifthpyramids/?v=7516fd43adaa / US: https://namepublications.org/item/2023/jesse-bransford-the-fourth-and-fifth-pyramids/

octagon house: https://www.chronogram.com/home/a-wayward-spirit-finds-home-16469398

Hyperallergic article by Allison Meier about "Language of the Birds: Occult and Art,"  New York University’s 80WSE Gallery: https://hyperallergic.com/270566/recreating-the-magic-circle-of-a-surrealist-seriously-into-the-occult/

Kurt Seligmann's Magical Evening: https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/surrealismandmagic/exhibition/images/200pxw/SAM_528.jpg

Kurt Seligmann's Book: "Mirror of Magic"

Maurice Tuchman's Book: "The Spiritual in Art: Abstract Painting 1890-1985" (find on ebay or amazon)

More about Jesse:

Jesse Bransford is a New York-based artist whose work is exhibited internationally at venues including The Carnegie Museum of Art, the UCLA Hammer Museum, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center and the CCA Wattis Museum among others. He holds degrees from the New School for Social Research (BA), Parsons School of Design (BFA) and Columbia University (MFA). A professor of art at New York University, Bransford's work has been involved with belief and the visual systems it creates since the 1990s. Work has been presented in books from Fulgur Press, “A Book of Staves (Galdrastafabók),” and most recently “The Fourth and Fifth Pyramids.” He lectures widely on his work and the topics surrounding his work. He is the co-organizer of the biennial Occult Humanities Conference and an editorial member of the Black Mirror Network.

Thank you, Jesse! Thank you, Pep Talks Patrons!

Thank you to my sponsor The Pack Art School: https://thepack.art/artistrebirthcycle

All music by Soundstripe

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