About
Artist Statement
As I transitioned from law to art, I explored different media, learning through books from the library, classes at community centers and online, and, ultimately, trial and error. In 2020, I began reading extensively books and poetry by Black women, such as Lucille Clifton, bell hooks, and Audre Lorde, and quickly realized how much had been left out of my prior education. In these writers, I felt the words of beauty and love for Black women speak to me. My art practice turned to painting the nuances of finding self-esteem, healing and peace. My paintings often feature textured hair, embracing it as a source of pride, and affirming the beauty in its volume and shape. I play with levels of abstraction in both the body and the background to create dream-like images. My work has evolved to use soft-colored palette to emphasize the desire for rest.
Biography
Julie Atkinson began painting after practicing law for ten years. What began with the purchase of a set of watercolor paint quickly grew into a passion for exploring the human figure and emotions through the colors and texture of oil paint. Her art education comes from self-directed online courses as well as from local community centers. She is deeply grateful to all the artists she met in these communities for their advice and encouragement. Julie's work has been included in the Art of the African Diaspora exhibition at the Richmond Art Center in Richmond, California, and in other galleries in Oakland, Berkeley, San Rafael, and Vallejo. In 2022, her piece, Yellow, was selected for the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois. Julie's work has also been included in several exhibitions in Illinois, Wyoming, and New Jersey. Julie is currently a member of the ACCI Gallery in Berkeley, California.
Julie lives with her husband and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area.