About the Artist
Jess Bell (b. 1983) is a realist oil painter whose work captures the light, movement, and atmosphere of the ocean and coastal landscapes of the shore. A lifelong resident of Monmouth County in New Jersey, Bell developed a deep connection to the water early in life, one that continues to define her artistic vision and studio practice.
A self-taught artist represented by Main Street Art Gallery in Manasquan, New Jersey, Bell has built a notable exhibition record across juried venues in New York, New Jersey, and California. Her work has been featured three times in American Art Collector magazine, including a Collectors Focus on Seascapes and two Art Show Previews. She was named a Top Finalist in PleinAir Magazine's 15th Annual Plein Air Salon Art Competition in 2025.
Bell holds elected membership in several distinguished professional organizations, including the American Artists Professional League, the Oil Painters of America, the American Society of Marine Artists, and the International Guild of Realism. She is also a Resident Artist at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Within the American Artists Professional League, she currently serves as Vice President and Co-Director of the Grand National Exhibition and previously served as Fundraising Director.
Her paintings have been shown at the Monmouth Museum, The Painting Center in New York City, Dacia Gallery in New York City, the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, New York, the Salmagundi Club in New York City, and Art Studio Hamptons Gallery, among many others.
Bell holds a Master of Science in Education from Monmouth University and three teaching certifications and taught in New Jersey schools for over a decade before returning full-time to her studio practice.
At the opening reception for Monmouth Museum’s 45th Annual Juried Art Exhibition with her painting, 'August Rolling Waves'.
Follow her on Instagram to see her current work and process.