Artist Statement
My work as a mixed media and collage artist is an exploration of intuition, memory and spontaneity. I am drawn to the interplay of bright colours, line and shape as well as the tactile nostalgia of vintage collage materials. These elements serve both as a canvas and a conversation, allowing me to weave together fragments of the past with the immediacy of the present.My process is instinctive and unplanned, a dance between chaos and harmony. I layer, tear, paint, draw and juxtapose materials, letting the work fold organically as I respond to the textures, hues, and stories embedded in each piece. The result is a celebration of imperfection -- vivid, unexpected compositions that pulse with energy and invite viewers to find their own meaning in the interplay of colour and form. Through my art, I seek to capture fleeting moments of joy and discovery, embracing the unpredictable beauty that emerges when intuition guides the hand. Each piece is a reflection of my belief that creation is not about control, but about surrender -- to the materials, to the process, to the moment, and to the endless possibilities they hold.
Profile
Julia Gonen is a Toronto based artist working in collage and mixed media. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honours from the University of Windsor, majoring in photography and multi-media. After completing her BFA, she changed paths and pursued a career as a Naturopathic Doctor. After a two decade hiatus, Julia returned to the world of art realizing that art is a necessity in life. Julia uses analog hand-cut collage along with painting, drawing, and other mixed media multi-layered to form her works of art.
Check out my other collage self-portraits.