I feel I made two small yet important breakthroughs;  in the Mostra I showed both a sculpture and a wall drawing, two mediums I’v never had the self-assurance to show publicly before.  Indeed, a sense of trust and value in my own ideas as an artist only increased with this residency. My sense of art history has deepened profoundly and I also believe that Rome made a mark on my style and taste as an artist.  In Rome I learned that the past is still very much alive in the present, and that looking back can only assist you in creating contemporary art. 

— Jessica Kirkpatrick