About Julie

Julie Casson is a queer artist who works in oils and does figurative arts. Born in San Francisco, Julie grew up drawing and painting for her friends and family. She later attended summer courses at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and won an award for Best Overall Artist. Later in life, she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Studio Arts with an emphasis in figurative drawing and painting from Sonoma State University. She also earned an additional Bachelor’s degree in History from SSU and later in life, a Masters Degree in Education from Portland State University.

After working for years at a comic book company where she honed her skills as a project manager and graphic designer, she moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to focus on her painting. She returned to the Bay Area to start a family and now lives in Portland, OR, where she resides with her wife and son. Her studio is in the pearl district of downtown Portland.

Julie is passionate about women’s experiences throughout history and showing how joy can shine through struggles for all women. She is also passionate about supporting queer and trans-rights as she is married to a trans-woman.

Her pieces have been shown in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, New York, San Francisco and Bethesda. 

Artist Statement

My life changed when I first visited Colonial Mexico in my youth. The vibrancy of everything in everyday life was so intense and powerful, that I wanted to share that passion through similar colors in my own work. Everything feels vibrant and important, even the small things we overlook. My work focuses on primarily women throughout history, showing how joy can shine through struggles. I want to illustrate the difficulty that so many have by conforming to norms and roles and needing to be an anchor for the family in motherhood. I like to paint cis and trans experiences of womanhood. The pressures that they endure and the power they possess. Yet even in the difficulty of circumstances, there is a bright energy that pulses out to the world. Another item that I bring into my work is the power of spirit. My subjects are moved on a deep level and I want to portray that for others to open their minds for universal connection and the balance between struggle and joy.

I work with oils on canvas and prefer to work on large-scale pieces. My process is usually to find a source or photograph that inspires me and then I use many active brush strokes to transcribe the energy. I am inspired by other artists that paint figuratively to hold your attention through energy, Frida Kahlo, David Hockney, Amy Sherald, and Aliza Nisenbaum.

I create these pieces for people to notice the sacred power women hold and for all people to connect with the energies of the universe that span across time and the physical figures we currently inhabit.