Jess Hooks



Hampshire College: Jan 1995 to May 1999

Art History, Cultural Studies, Religion, Experiential Education

Jess Hooks fell in love with participatory art in LA area nightlife in the early 90s. While attending Hampshire College she drew a connection between the avant-guard, medieval art & literature, monotheism, capitalism and the construction female identities. After completing post-graduate programs at FIDM & UCSC, Jess received an MFA in Dramatic Art from UC Davis. For the next 10 years she focused her efforts as a designer for contemporary dance, devised theater, nightlife and fashion – collaborating with drag queens and academics, designing for festivals and theaters, making work with some of the most respected choreographers, fashion labels, event producers and directors in contemporary art, performance, nightlife & fashion. In 2010 she joined the leadership of The FIGMENT Project – an arts non profit committed to advance social & personal transformation through creativity in the form of free participatory events.

Jess currently lives half the year in Red Hook, Brooklyn and the other in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, serving as the Global Learning Director for FIGMENT as well as the only porter born with female-bits in the 50 year history of venerable queer disco & cabaret, The Ice Palace (or so she’s been told).

Website: design-nomad.com

Facebook: facebook.com/jesshooks

I'm available to chat about theater & event design, living in New York, supporting yourself as an artist, event production, getting an MFA and of course FIGMENT & Burning Man.

Reach me at: jthS95 *at* hampshire *dot* edu