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About


Julie Hawkins is an abstract painter from Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Her works are created out of intuition through spontaneous movement and expressive brushstrokes. Julie’s painting practice is an integral part of her ability to live a mindful life. 

 
Julie has exhibited her work in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York City. She has been working as a professional artist for over 15 years, selling work directly at exhibitions as well as through gallery representation.

 

"Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive,
and go do it.
Because what the world needs
is more people
who have come alive"

- Howard Thurman

Artist Statement

My work is rooted in abstract painting as a means of emotional expression and exploration. Through layered marks, colour, and form, I investigate the tension between release and restraint, freedom and boundary—contrasts that echo both inner experiences and the broader human condition. Often referencing organic forms and more recently, aerial perspectives, my paintings blur the line between the terrestrial and the intangible, inviting viewers to shift between grounded and expansive viewpoints.

Creating art is a deep, intuitive process for me—a compulsion that taps into a level of consciousness beyond words. It’s how I process the world and connect with others on a more essential, emotional plane. I paint to transmit joy, clarity, and love, and I strive to infuse each piece with uplifting energy. My hope is that my work resonates in a personal way, offering a sense of wonder, vitality, and beauty to the spaces it inhabits.

Recent Thoughts 

As a Canadian artist working in abstraction, I have been exploring the emotional and conceptual terrain of borders—both the ones we draw on maps and the ones we carry within ourselves. My work questions what it means to belong to a place, to a country, or to an idea. How do invisible lines shape our identities? How ethical is it to be constrained—or privileged—by them?

Using abstract forms, gestural movement, and layered textures, I navigate the tension between openness and restriction, connection and separation. A few of my recent paintings evoke aerial views or natural elements, echoing the land while resisting literal depiction. This perspective allows me to reflect on the vastness of the earth against the artificiality of national boundaries.

To be Canadian is to grapple with a complex legacy—of colonization, displacement, inclusion, and multicultural ideals. Through my work, I aim to hold space for that complexity, honouring both the land’s beauty and the urgent questions it asks of us. Painting becomes a way to connect with others beyond language and to ask:  What kind of world do we want to shape through the lines we draw?