New Work for 2025: Serendipity Series
Julia Crosara, "Serendipity No. 1," 2024, mixed media, 16x16in.
Julia Crosara, "Serendipity No. 2," 2024, mixed media, 16x16in.
Earlier Work: Oil, Acrylic & Mixed Media
Julia Crosara, "Uncharted Territory," 2019, oil on canvas, 36x36in.
Julia Crosara, "Tuscan Sunset," 2021, acrylic on canvas, 36x36in.
Julia Crosara, "Waterfall," 2022, mixed media, 16x16in.
Julia Crosara, "Reflection," 2020, mixed media, 16x16in.
Julia provides a wellspring of visual references that evoke the passage of time and transformation. Her deft and complex stylistic approach to image-making suggests similarities to the continuously evolving forces inherent in nature. Her paintings serve to inspire discovery, and reflection and provide endless possibilities for interpretation. — Renee Philips, Founder/Curator of Manhattan Arts International
Julia Crosara, "Eternal Spring," 2019, oil on canvas, 36x36in.
Julia Crosara, 2020, "Improvisation No. 4," mixed media, 18x18 in.
Julia Crosara, "Into the Wild Sea," 2020, mixed media, 18x18in.
Julia Crosara, "Heart of the Matter," 2017, mixed media, 18x18in.
Curiousity is the driving force behind my painting practice, guiding me to continuously discover new ways of interacting with paint. Unfinished artwork is often the groundwork for new pieces, which adds to the richness of their multilayered surfaces. The process is spontaneous, dynamic, and full of surprises.
Art Background
Growing up in Chicago, my early interest in art was nurtured by the city’s vibrant cultural scene. The Art Institute of Chicago was a continuous source of inspiration and the site of my very first art lesson. To further my involvement in the arts, I moved to New York City and worked at the Metropolitan Museum while earning a BA in Art History from New York University.
After several years of gallery work in New York and Los Angeles, I realized that my desire to paint was greater than my interest in curating art. Recognizing the value of formal training, I developed my art portfolio and returned to Chicago to pursue a BFA in Painting from the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Art and Design.
Art school was a pivotal time in my life because I was mentored by esteemed Chicago artists, Susan Sensemann and Kerry James Marshall. They shared their art studios, demystified the painting process, and helped me think critically about my work. Being on the receiving end of their insightful critiques was transformative and had a lasting impact on my artistic development.
Since then, I've showcased my work—including paintings, drawings, handwoven tapestries, and art masks—in exhibitions and venues across Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and abroad. Often working on commission, my paintings are held in private collections in Chicago and Southern California.
Between 2022-2024, my work was featured in Art Folio, a contemporary art publication; highlighted in Seattle's Earshot Jazz magazine; and selected for the HerStory exhibition, curated by Manhattan Arts International. Additionally, my work reached an international audience through an exhibition in Bologna, Italy, organized by Trevisan International Art.