BIO

Julie Pawlowski (b. 1977) is an LA-based interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the beauty and complexities of relationships within social and urban landscapes. Her work is informed by her daily commutes and incorporates analog and digital photography as well as collage, oil, and watercolor. The importance of documentation and the transformative power of storytelling are recurring themes evident throughout her various bodies of work focusing on memory, identity, and connection. Julie’s paintings serve as a continuation in the process of studying the abstract beauty inherent within these spaces. Since 1999, Julie’s work has been exhibited internationally including China and the United States in both solo and group exhibitions.

HER STORY

Some of my earliest memories are rooted in the pages of my grandparents’ photo albums. As a child, I spent hours poring over my grandmother's meticulously curated volumes, where personal travels and family milestones were carefully preserved alongside her elegant, handwritten script. Equally captivating were the visual archives left by my late grandfather—a poignant collection of black-and-white photographs he captured while serving as a soldier in Germany during World War II. Though we never met, immersing myself in those brave, historic frames forged a profound, timeless connection between us. It was through these heirlooms that I first experienced the true power of photography: its ability to document both world history and intimate family legacies, creating an enduring human bond that spans time and place.

When I was gifted my grandfather’s camera in high school, my relationship with the medium transformed from observation to active exploration. I began chasing the magic of light, documenting the unique stories of the people and communities around me. Over time, painting emerged as a natural extension of this creative journey. Today, my photographs serve as the essential baseline for my canvases, allowing me to translate a frozen moment into a layered, expressive work of art that amplifies the underlying emotion, memory, and history.