Artist Biography
Julie Petersen is a painter based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work focuses on representational figures, texture, and bold colors. She uses oil paints, acrylic mediums, chalk, modeling paste, and other mixed media techniques. Julie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Cleveland Institute of Art. She is a recipient of the Gund Family Scholarship for portfolio presentation, and her work has been featured in the Case Western Reserve University Daily Mail. Julie contributed pieces to the Nord Center Gallery in Cleveland, and her sculptural work is in a permanent collection at the Ohio VFW headquarters. She also interns at the Cleveland Clinic's Arts and Medicine Department as a student technician and researcher.
Artist Statement
My work is deeply influenced by the dynamic interplay between acrylic paint, found materials, and an underlying sense of fluidity that guides the creative process. Painting, for me, transcends the boundaries of traditional art forms; it becomes a therapeutic practice, an act of self-reflection and meditation that unfolds naturally with each stroke of the brush. I embrace the spontaneity of my process, allowing the vibrant colors to flow and evolve on the canvas, as I engage in a dialogue between the painted surface and the collaged elements that I incorporate. These elements, often collected from various sources, serve as both physical and symbolic fragments that contribute to the layering of meaning within the work.
The essence of my artistic approach is rooted in the principles of art therapy, which I’ve encountered through my experience working in medical and therapeutic settings. This foundation informs my creative process, as I seek to merge the healing potential of art with the expression of emotion and inner exploration. My work embodies this unique intersection of creativity and healing, where each piece becomes an intimate conversation between the materials and the emotions they represent. By weaving together elements of chance, intention, and reflection, my paintings invite viewers into a space of contemplation, offering them a window into the meditative journey I experience through the act of creation. This process, both personal and universal, defines my ongoing artistic journey.