Julie Ahmad is an abstract artist based in Austin, Texas. She creates art that’s “intuitive, colorful and contemporary”. Learn more about Julie and her journey as an abstract artist in our interview below.
Julie Ahmad Abstract Artist
What’s the main inspiration for your art?
My art comes from a desire to complete a beautiful space. The inspiration is always sourced from an interior setting yearning for artwork to pull everything together. The atmosphere in the room is heavily molded by art; each painting of mine is meant to be lived with to serve as a source of either comfort, sophistication, or intrigue.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I have several different styles that I create within the abstract genre; from intuitive, geometric to portraits. Often after, I create a more structured piece. I need a loose, intuitive piece to break the tension & vice versa.
What is the biggest goal you try to achieve with your art?
My goal is to leave an inspiring legacy for my children. I want them to be able to work in the business at some point in their lives should they choose, in some capacity, or simply benefit from the residual income from my career. With my art being a reflection of who I am, I have created a clear timeline of my career within my art blog which includes collaborations, shows, honors I’ve received etc. This is a special record of my journey and I want for them to always truly know who I am, even long after I am gone. Having my legacy benefit them in their own endeavors is the dream.
Why abstract art and not other styles?
During my career as a full time professional artist (almost 10 years now), I have always created some kind of variation of abstract art. Whether it be intuitive, geometric or portraits. When I was a young artist in grade school, I was most fascinated with realism and portraits.
What’s your favourite thing about being an abstract artist?
I love that I have so much flexibility in my job; I get to create art, work on marketing, and host events. Being able to bounce around and work on all of these in a day just works for my ADHD brain. If I had to do only one aspect of my job, it simply wouldn’t work for me.
Did you always know you’d be an artist or how has your art journey progressed?
Pursuing art as a career never came to mind as a possibility. Art to me was a hobby and something that you enjoyed, but couldn’t necessarily make a living from. I studied Fashion Merchandising/Marketing and later attained another degree in NYC at FIT in Fashion Design. After years of study, I realized that the business of fashion was more enjoyable in theory and did not satisfy me beyond the classroom. Once I became pregnant with my daughter, Aaliyah, I had the strongest desire to create with my own hands. Abstract art was always intriguing to me in the past, but pregnancy truly catapulted my passion for the craft and made me realize this avenue was where I belonged.
What’s the most important personal characteristic needed to embark on a career as an artist?
Grit. Being an artist means being an entrepreneur: this is not to get rich with a quick gig, but to make a career is a marathon of a task. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and never weigh anything as the be-all and end-all. Simply KEEP GOING. It’s a long haul, but if it’s meant to be and is truly your passion, you will keep going.
What advice would you give up and coming abstract artists?
Take business/marketing classes as well as art classes. Subscribing to the thought that the art will sell itself is a losing battle. The analogy that I like to use is “you could literally have the cure to cancer in your hand, but if you don’t know how to market it then no one will know and it won’t go anywhere.”
What’s your most fulfilling and enjoyable experience as an artist so far?
This past Spring (2023) I decided that I wanted to begin representing other artists at my own art gallery. I’ve always seen a lack of representation and an abundance of talent. Fortunately for myself, I had a show this May and met a lovely woman by the name of Donna Schwandt. She showed me some of her artwork on her phone and my mouth literally hit the floor. I asked her to come back and show me her work in person as I was embarking on a new series of showings that would feature a new talent each month. She brought them back and it was just masterpiece after masterpiece… I just signed her as my first artist to represent and her debut show will be hosted by me. To know that I am helping support another local female artist is everything to me.
Where do you see yourself and your art in 5 years?
I see myself owning a commercial property in the 78704 that has a seperate gallery space and smaller studio units attached. I’d like to have a studio for myself to paint in and simultaneously manage the main art gallery where I represent other artists and provide space for other creatives to flourish in the attached studios. I want to create art, run a successful gallery and create a prolific artist community that will be recognized worldwide for its excellence, community and creativity.
What do you love most about abstract art?
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