Jess
Jess
American, 1923–2004
Death placeSan Francisco, California, United States
Birth placeLong Beach, California, United States
BiographyThe artist, Jess, was born Burgess Collins in 1923 in Long Beach California. Jess initially was educated as a chemist and in his career worked on the production of plutonium for the Manhattan Project. In 1949 he abandoned his scientific career and moved to San Francisco where he enrolled in the California School of Fine Arts. Burgess Collins then changed his name to "Jess." In 1951 Jess met poet, Robert Duncan, and began a relationship that lasted until Duncan's death in 1988.Person TypePerson
