Julia Wickes didn’t plan to be an artist when she grew up. She really didn’t know any professional artists in her little town in southern Indiana. She thought she would be a psychiatrist, a social worker or a teacher. Always an avid reader, Wickes loved the idea of storytelling, too.
Two of their three daughters were still attending college when Wickes decided to enroll in classes at John Herron School of Art, now a part of Indiana University. (This was the school which had awarded her ... view more »
Artist Style: Visual: Abstract, Contemporary, Figurative
Artist Medium: Visual Arts: Acrylic, Oil
I am a storyteller. My paintings tell stories, mostly about people—people I know, people I might have noticed and want to think more about, or they are imaginary people whom I think would be enjoyable and interesting to know.A gesture, a look—what does it tell about the inner life? My painted subjects are not me, but the emotions reflect mine. It has to work this way. My painted characters come from someone I wanted to think more about. They are bits and pieces of people I have been looking at all of my life.My paintings are about somewhere, too. A place reveals so much. Something important is happening here. How does this place contribute to the story?
I am a communicator, an interpreter of observed lives. I start with a figure in a place. As the story unfolds on the canvas, I aim to create the universal when I paint the individual.
Pricing of individual works is found on my website – juliawickes.com
Education
2014-present Workshops with Melinda Cootsona, Menlo Park, CA & Pauline Agnew, Cork, Ireland
2002 BFA, The Herron School of Art, Indiana University/Purdue
University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN Major-Painting, Minor-Art History
1998 Pont Aven School of Art, Pont Aven, France
1971 B.S., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, Major-Elementary Education
Current Professional Affiliations
2005-present Stutz Artists Association, Indianapolis, IN
Awards/Recognition
2020 Besst of Show, “Figures of Speech” Anderson Museum of Art, Anderson , IN
2010 First Place, IDADA Annual Juried Show, 914 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
