Sacre Coeur Drawing

I’m Jessica Puma, a painter based in Philadelphia, PA. My work grows out of lived experience: the places I’ve walked, the people I’ve loved, and the stories that continue to form me. Painting is both a discipline and a devotional practice—each work a gesture of attention, care, and reverence. Whether I am painting flowers held in remembrance or responding to the enduring architecture of European cities, the work is guided by a belief in presence and meaning beyond what is immediately seen. I work primarily in oil and mixed media, building thick, tactile surfaces through impasto and layered mark-making. Moving between observation and abstraction, I use color, texture, and structure to hold emotional and spiritual weight. Travel to Paris and Rome has deeply shaped my palette and sense of form; light, atmosphere, and architectural rhythm continue to inform how I think through paint. I am especially drawn to the expressive power of surface—how a single mark can carry grief, joy, or quiet devotion. My home is both sanctuary and studio—a place of making, reflection, and remembrance. It is also where I honor family legacy and faith as living forces. Through my work, I connect with collectors who value emotional honesty, spiritual depth, and a contemplative approach to painting.