Born in 1981 in Silver Springs, USA, Jesse Mockrin lives and works in Los Angeles. She graduated from the Fine Arts program at the University of California, San Diego, and Barnard College, Columbia University. Through her choice of palette and subjects with vaporous curves, Jesse Mockrin transports the viewer to the 18th century in a Rococo universe. Indeed, Mockrin finds inspiration in the work of French artists such as Jean-Honoré Fragonard and François Boucher.

"There were interesting aspects in the Rococo, where men also strolled in the gardens, flowers in their hair," notes Mockrin. "It wasn't reserved for women; something perceived as feminine in one painting can be perceived as masculine in another."

The gender identity markers of that era intrigue Mockrin and are palpable in her work. She also draws inspiration from Japanese and Korean men's fashion magazines, as well as floral patterns and ties from Gucci's Spring 2016 men's collection. "One of the things that has always fascinated me in old paintings is the clothing; they are all varied and complex," the artist said. "Gender is not obvious in the design of these clothes."