Jemima Kirke: Movies, Sex and Bukowski (Redux)

In this candid and richly layered episode, Emily sits down with artist and actress Jemima Kirke for a conversation that unfolds with wit, depth, and honesty. Best known for her role as Jessa in HBO’s Girls, Jemima is also a RISD-trained painter whose work explores vulnerability, womanhood, and identity through a deeply personal lens.Jemima opens up about the nuances of balancing visibility in the film world with the more private act of painting, the impact of motherhood on her creative process, and why she remains uninterested in pleasing anyone but herself when it comes to making art.The interview was photographed by the inimitable Matthew Tully Dugan, who captured Jemima at home—images as intimate and magnetic as the conversation itself.As always, The Art Career Podcast is brought to you by a small but passionate team. These unscripted, heartfelt dialogues are made possible by a community that values art, storytelling, and truth. Thank you for being here.Jemima Kirke is a British-American actress and visual artist. She rose to prominence for her role as Jessa Johansson on the HBO series Girls, and has since starred in acclaimed projects such as Conversations with Friends, Maniac, and Sex Education. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Jemima’s first love is painting—her figurative works often exploring themes of intimacy, identity, and the complexities of womanhood. Her art has been exhibited in both the U.S. and the UK, and she continues to cultivate a multidisciplinary practice that defies easy categorization.

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The Art Career is a space breaking barriers by letting you sit in on candid, straightforward conversations with leaders in visual arts, writing, music, theater and film. Join New York based advisor, curator, and overall artist advocate, Emily McElwreath, for authentic conversations with icons of our generation like #1 New York Times best selling author Cheryl Strayed, senior art critic for New York Magazine, Jerry Saltz, and world renowned artist, Marilyn Minter. Emily dives deep into topics like self development, career trajectories, mental health, and social justice.