About the Artist

Jessica Licciardello is a multidisciplinary artist, director, and composer based in New York. Her creative practice weaves together visual art, music, and storytelling to explore themes of survival, healing, and what it means to take up space in the world after being silenced.

Much of Jessica’s work is rooted in personal experience. As a survivor of domestic abuse, she uses her art as both a mirror and a light—a way to reflect what’s been lived through, and to illuminate paths forward. Her pieces often speak to those moments between struggle and strength, when transformation quietly begins. 8 Minutes to Freedom is one such project: a deeply personal and public offering meant to create connection, hold space, and spark hope.

Over the past two decades, Jessica has built a diverse creative career that includes roles as a designer, art director, and producer. She has worked with organizations like New York Life, BELLA Magazine, and the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, and her design work has been featured by outlets including National Geographic, Vogue, French Connection, and Bloomingdale’s. Her original paintings and illustrations have been collected in over 15 countries.

For Jessica, art is ultimately about presence—being with what’s real, and offering something meaningful back to the world. Whether she’s composing music, painting, or designing visuals that bring a story to life, her intention remains the same: to make people feel seen and make us all feel less alone.

Photography by Irma Jace | Hair by Concetta Linea | Makeup by Stephanie DeNisco