In Navajo culture, hummingbirds signify beauty and wisdom. In ancient Aztec culture, the hummingbird held great symbolism, representing Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. In Jamaica, the national bird—a bright green hummingbird—symbolizes resilience. And in artist Jessica Pisano’s world, they make for the perfect muse.
“They carry themselves with such remarkable grace—their movement is like poetry,” she says. “And even though they’re the smallest birds in the sky, they produce a profound, distinctive song. But what truly captivates me, beyond their symbolic significance, is their stunning form in flight.”
From her studio on Martha’s Vineyard, Pisano meticulously captures the essence of these winged models, painting them into backdrops of abstract, ethereal washes of oil paint in a restrained palette. “I’m drawn to colors that are soft; I want my paintings to hold a certain sense of calm,” Pisano explains. “That quietude in my palette is an attempt to mirror something essential about the natural world. That peacefulness found in nature is what I’m trying to convey by using subtle color.”
Rendered through the lens of contemporary realism, the birds are not just explorations of the natural world, but of human connection. With titles like “Letter to Our Younger Selves” or “Together Through Time and Space,” many of her works explore Pisano’s curiosity about human relationships—new and old, past and present.
“I want them to feel connected to one another—as if caught mid-conversation or suspended in a dance,” Pisano says. “There’s a relationship between them that I love to portray: perhaps they’re romantic partners, perhaps they’re old souls reuniting, perhaps they’re visitors of loved ones past, or maybe they’re strangers meeting on the edge of something new.”
Another focus of her work, trees—specifically bonsai—further illustrates her interest in capturing form: “I’m looking for those small or large manipulations of form, whether by nature or by human hand,” Pisano explains.
Of course, their symbolism, too, is part of their appeal. But for Pisano, their intricate structure presents the perfect challenge. “Beyond what they symbolize—they carry such beauty; it’s their visual architecture that captivates me,” she says. “When I look at them, I see poses, fine intricate layers, and entire stories held in their silhouette. The challenge of translating that into a painting, of honoring what I see—that’s where the joy lives for me.”
Select works from the bonsai series, as well as from Pisano’s hummingbird collection, can be viewed and purchased at SmithKlein Gallery on Pearl Street, where Pisano has had her art represented by owners Nathan and Ann Klein for more than 10 years.
“I love working with a gallery that has such embedded roots in that community,” Pisano explains. “They’ve been such a pleasure and a joy to work with, because they get excited about what their artists are doing… That kind of feedback is really spectacular. And they just have such extensive knowledge on what artists are all about.”
To Ann Klein, co-owner of SmithKlein Gallery, the feeling is mutual. “Representing an artist like Jessica Pisano is uniquely gratifying, not only working with her personally but also getting to see the joy and inspiration she creates through her artwork," Klein says. "Jessica exhibits a wonderful strength and understanding of nature and the subjects she paints that is quite symbiotic to her personality. Working with Jessica and speaking about her work brings us immense joy, and we feel very honored.”
To see Pisano’s works in person, visit SmithKlein Gallery at 1116 Pearl Street. Learn more at SmithKlein.com.