Jesse Richard Pearson of Stewartville passed away on June 3, 2024 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Jesse was born January 14, 1980 in Rochester, MN and graduated from Mayo High School in 1998. He went on to earn a BFA in Photography from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2002. He then attended the University of New Mexico where he earned his MFA in Art Studio & Art History with distinction.

Jesse held a variety of creative positions including visual design for Urban Outfitters and Target, though his greatest passion was teaching photography. He held faculty positions at Monterey Peninsula College, Eldorado School, University of New Mexico, College of the Redwoods, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Rochester Art Center and Studio Academy.

As an artist, Jesse received countless accolades and awards, including a grant which allowed him to travel to Stockholm Sweden and Haukijarvi Finland with his twin brother, artist Jason Pearson, where they studied the work of their distant relative, Mauritz Stiller, a pioneer in silent film. Jesse's solo work as well as his collaborations with Jason (under the moniker Dick and Wayne) has been presented in solo and group shows around the country and was included in the Midwest Photographers Project at the prestigious Museum of Contemporary Photography. His last show was presented in the spring of 2021 at Foto Forum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jesse loved to go camping, hiking, gardening, and was always looking for a bargain at thrift stores or flea markets, restored furniture and, of course, create art of some kind. He had been preparing his journey at least a year before his prolonged illness and actual liver transplant on February 20, 2024. He was grateful for receiving a liver from a donor.

Jesse is survived by his parents, Scott and Debra (Nord) Pearson of Stewartville; brother Eric Pearson of Rochester; maternal grandmother Virginia Nord of Rochester, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who loved him. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Wayne Nord, his paternal grandparents Richard and Arlene Pearson, and his twin brother Jason Pearson.

A Celebration Gathering for Jesse will be held from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM Sunday, June 9, 2024 in the River Park Reception Hall at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com