Julie Pelaez
The daughter of an artist and herself a lifelong creative, Julie graduated with a BFA from the University of Delaware and spent a decade as an Advertising Art Director in the DC area. After making the jump to full-time motherhood and moving to Austin in 2011, she found herself in need of a creative outlet and turned nap times into therapeutic painting sessions. In particular, the world of abstract art and ink gave her an unprecedented avenue to express herself and find her voice, unmatched by any previous medium or subject matter. After years of honing her skills and amassing enough work, Julie began exhibiting in Austin galleries in 2015. Today, her practice includes commissions from private nurseries to corporate installations with Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center, print collaborations with national retailers, and a growing line of wallpaper designs. She has participated in dozens of exhibitions nationwide and is known for her themed original art collections that release on a semi-annual basis online. She continues to blend her interests in personal development and abstract painting from her home studio in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her husband and (now teen) sons.
Artist Statement
My artwork is an empowering tool to elevate interiors while cultivating the personal growth of the people who inhabit them. Each piece is a personal narrative, an inspiration, a rallying cry, a universal theme of human experience we can all relate to. While abstract, the choices of composition, color, technique, and materials are very calculated and symbolic. In this way, I draw upon my heavy conceptual background gained from a decade-long career as an Advertising Art Director.
I work in collections, each with its own central concept and distinct execution style. Through symbolism, titles, and visual storytelling, each collection implies a conscious question requiring self-inquiry on the part of the viewer. For example, the “Floodgates” Collection asks, “How can I get out of my own way to allow in healing?” Compositionally, a draped “curtain” of layered gestural mixed media falls away. It is through this symbolic shedding of repetitive patterns and subconscious stories that the calming gradient below (symbolizing transition) is uncovered to make way for growth and healing. On the back of each artwork is a message: “We are the gatekeepers to our own healing.” Through this contemplation, viewers connect to both the artwork and a deeper knowing of themselves. Seeing the art daily on the wall then serves as a visual reminder that, as the gatekeeper, they have the power to initiate the lasting change they seek.
www.juliepelaezstudios.com
