Jessica Timmins
"It’s important for me to help visitors find their own ideas about a work of art. I really want people to walk away from my tours having made up their own minds about a piece. So I encourage slowing down and making meaningful visual connections. It may seem simple, but it’s something many of us have stopped doing in our modern world of scrolling through split second videos! I also try to give different ways into thinking about a work of art. Art history isn’t the only approach. We can also explore a work’s current cultural context, its market value, or even how it ended up in this museum collection. That’s all part of its life, too."
My favorite place in Paris is the National Library, aka the BnF at Richelieu, home to a royal collection of books since 1721. With two huge reading rooms, one just for researchers and one for the wider public, it’s a monument to learning. Inside the peaceful courtyard, there’s a beautiful garden completely dedicated to plants that make paper.
Jess grew up near Liverpool, and even from an early age, was a true believer in art’s ability to change minds and reveal new perspectives. After studying Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, she began guiding at contemporary art fairs like Frieze London, where she realized the power in building bridges between viewer and artist. After completing her Master’s in contemporary art and museum studies in Leiden, Netherlands, Jess has been guiding in the museums of Paris, finding new ways to connect with curious travellers through art.
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