“The constant ‘What if?’ is key to my artistic endeavour, which has always felt like a scientific investigation into the ‘Wyrd’ and the beautiful.”
— Sean Jefferson
Sean Jefferson was born in South-east London in 1957, and studied Microbiology at Imperial College, London. After discovering the German surrealist Max Ernst through the “tea-time TV publicity” surrounding the famous artist’s death in 1976, Sean became inspired to become an artist himself. Some of his influences besides Surrealism are William Blake, Samuel Palmer, Richard Dadd, G.F. Watts, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Symbolism and Art Nouveau. All of it masterfully combined with themes, motives and techniques from magic, folklore and the occult.
You will find a biographic text written by Sean himself in 2023 and with insights into his occult and alchemical interests, among others, at https://www.spiritualarts.org.uk/sean-jefferson-spiritual-psychedelia-and-art/
Sean Jefferson is represented by Messums St. James’s in London, where you can find his recent paintings: https://www.messums.com/artists/view/1218/Sean_Jefferson
For Theion, Sean is currently working on a remarkable alchemical project titled The Faerie Garden of Michael Foy: An Agrarian Alchemical Tract. This opus will feature 22 new paintings inspired by the 12 zodiac signs, the 7 classical planets (or alchemical metals), and the 3 alchemical elements: sulphur, salt, and mercury. Additionally, the work will include several line drawings and accompanying text.