About Julie McDonald

Julie McDonald’ is based in Tasmania, Australia, who work explores the intersection of identity, nature, and cultural narratives through painting, drawing, and mixed media. Julie's art reflects her deep connection to the Tasmanian landscape, her work explores themes of transformation—both in nature and the human experience.

A central focus of her recent work is the evolving visibility of the ageing female form. Through symbolic representations, including delicate gouache renderings of the uterus, she challenges societal constructs surrounding womanhood, fertility, and the perception of ageing. Julie's compositions invite introspection, positioning the female body within a broader discourse on resilience, invisibility, and personal agency.

Alongside these explorations of identity, Julie's landscapes capture Tasmania’s dynamic environmental shifts. Her layered textures and expressive palette reflect the ephemeral qualities of light, weather, and seasonal flux, drawing a parallel between the natural world’s cycles and human impermanence.

Julie holds an Honours degree in Fine Arts and has exhibited extensively across Australia in both solo and group exhibitions. Her work, which integrates traditional printmaking with contemporary mixed-media techniques, has been recognised for its evocative storytelling and conceptual depth.

In 2024, she undertook an artist residency at Quamby Estate, Hagley, where she explores the region’s rich historical and environmental influences, further deepening her connection to place and heritage.

Beyond her studio practice, Julie is dedicated to arts education, leading workshops that empower others to explore creativity as a tool for self-expression and transformation. Through teaching, she fosters a sense of community and artistic confidence, ensuring that art remains an accessible and enriching experience for all.

Her work is a constant dialogue between self-exploration and cultural critique, and she encourages others to engage in the artistic process as a means of personal transformation.

Julie holds an Honours degree in Fine Arts and has exhibited extensively across Australia in both solo and group exhibitions. Her work, which integrates traditional printmaking with contemporary mixed-media techniques, has been recognized for its evocative storytelling and conceptual depth.

Artistic Philosophy and Process

Julie’s artistic process is driven by curiosity and a desire to explore themes that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Whether it’s the transformation of a woman’s body as it ages or the shifting colours of the Tasmanian seasons, Julie’s work is informed by a constant process of experimentation. Her use of various media, including printmaking, gouache, and mixed media, allows her to express layered narratives that blend abstraction with realism.

For Julie, the act of creating art is not just about the final piece—it is an ongoing conversation with materials, emotions, and concepts that challenge preconceived boundaries. Each piece is an invitation to question how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us.

Julie continues to push boundaries in her creative journey, seeking to communicate complex ideas through the most intuitive and tactile mediums available. Her art is a celebration of the beauty in transformation, whether it’s through the passage of time, the seasons, or the emotional and social shifts that affect the lives of women.