Julie Kesti, Bodywork and Art

Back To Home

art

Currently I make paintings and drawings out of gouache, acrylic, watercolors, markers, ink and thread.  I make zines and stories with paper, pens, and copy machines. My current work is on the small side, due to my current living space  and spirit of mobility, but I love doing large-scale installation work with paper and other materials as well.

I have a B.A. in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota. My art has appeared in the world as interactive public art, in work with teens, in gallery shows, in remembrance of a loved one, and on a frozen lake. I’ve even made a couple of ketubahs for friends who were inspired by my work assisting the Ketubah artist Sharon Stillman in Minneapolis.

Buy some art in my shop.  Have some fun looking out my tumblr. Check out the chilly-and-awesome Art Swap Shanty. Email me to commission a work of art.

WORKSHOPS

I’m teaching some creativity workshops in Shanghai in 2013.  

The goal of the workshops is to create space and time for you to be creative, try something new, and face the world with renewed energy + fresh eyes.

May 26 / drawing room (drawing workshop)  read more here

June 16 / sharpen your pencils! (writing workshop) read more here

Stay tuned for info. on future workshops.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

I just wanted to thank you for the incredibly beautiful piece of artwork you made for me. I can’t quite articulate it, but this little painting speaks to me much more deeply than I was ever expecting. And the Anne Lamott quote on the back perfect. Thank you once again, and please keep creating. xo.

R, Sydney, Australia

I’m thrilled to have several of Julie’s pieces in my house – I love original art work and since I know Julie on a personal level, I can appreciate all the love and effort she puts into each piece. I am most fond of our wedding ketubah – it is such a special piece of art and knowing that it was made by Julie makes it unique and full of love. Julie’s use of color and movement are so fun – I always see something new when I look at her artwork. Julie is person full of passion for living and I think that shows in her work. We love Julie!

AG, Chicago, IL

Julie’s art is a vibrant burst of creativity, color and emotion that enlivens the entire room it inhabits!

AB, St. Paul MN

My mysteryARTgift has arrived and looks beautiful!  Just what I needed, too… with my body full of sickness and it snowing this morning in Mineapolis. . . your art just opened up my afternoon. It’s so expressive and bright and full of love. Thank you so much Julie!!

MP, Minneapolis

I have a few small paintings by Julie and they are displayed on my alter. They bring a magical sense to the space. The bright colors and layered patterns remind me of traveling, planting seeds and harvesting magical surprises. I feel blessed to be surrounded by such delight!

SB, Minneapolis

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into our apartment and been struck by how bare our walls are. I’ve been wanting to do something about them for a long time, but there are so many rooms and so many walls. Julie’s art subscription service couldn’t have come at a better time for me! I don’t have to go to art galleries (for pieces I can’t afford) and I can skip IKEA while keeping my sanity (for pieces I’ll eventually see in a friend’s house). Thank you so much, Julie! Every time I walk by the piece we’ve received so far, I can’t help but smile. I’m looking forward to seeing what else you have in store for us!

RW, Switzerland

Julie’s art seems to sprout from some wonderful place of spontaneity, and receiving her work in the mail is like a personalized invitation to go there with her.

AD, Minneapolis

{Have a response to share?  Email me–thanks!}

©2011 oil pastel/mixed media painting

Picture 1 of 65

The above slide show is a wide range of work from 1999-2011.  View my most recent work and work-in-progress on my tumblr.

Julie loves you!

Latest Art from the Blog

Jun 6, 2013

fantasy island update: alternate canadian dreamscape secured!

You WERE my good luck charm! I AM going to Canada! Yes! Thank you!

Jun 4, 2013

1-2-inspire-U (#4): dana o’malley

This episode’s guest is St. Paul, Minnesota, painter and illustrator Dana O’Malley. I met Dana when I was creating the CSAlove show and she submitted some paintings of chickens. They were urban chickens and delightful and created a whole world in a tiny scene. . .

Jun 2, 2013

MORE WOMEN AT THE MIC: yoko

This is the 4th post in the very new MORE WOMEN AT THE MIC series. Today I celebrate artist, musician, and all-around wonder-beholder-maker Yoko Ono. She is one of the most audacious women alive and she is still making bold moves at 80 years old. . .

Jun 1, 2013

be my good luck charm

May 27, 2013

10 images 2 say me (?)

Does this group tell a story or form any connections? Answer in a few sentences in the comments, and one of you will win something special from me!

May 24, 2013

1-2-inspire-U (#3): angela sprunger

meet artist Angela Sprunger, the third artist in the 1-2-inspire-U series!

May 18, 2013

MORE WOMEN AT THE MIC: cheryl

This series is about women speaking their truths, stepping up to the mic (whatever their version of the mic is), claiming and telling their own story instead of letting others tell it for them or to them, making things, daring over and over to put their work out into the world, rising rising rising again and again.

May 17, 2013

friday love note! (celebrating a year of love notes!)

Friends, I recently realized we passed the one year mark on friday love notes! That’s kind of cool.

Artist Statement

I work with acrylic paint, markers, watercolor crayons, Chinese brush and ink, collage, fabric and thread. Often my work is an exploration of the puzzles and challenges, textures and qualities of our physical and spiritual / psychological boundaries. My work in recent yeas includes body parts, shadow tracings, and abstract mixed-media drawings evoking ideas of safety, possession, permission/freedom, and impermanence. Or--sometimes--I just start layering colors, and layer and re-layer them and see where it takes me.

Since moving to Shanghai, I have been experimenting with zine formats, beginning to think about visual narratives in booklet or letter form. I’ve also been keeping a blog, which has been a productive place of exploration, experimentation, and focus. Part of this is an artist interview series, about their creative habits and process, conducted through the mail and made into both zines and a blog series.

I’ve also employed art as a community medium through projects such as the [Art Swap Shanty]and [CSAlove]. The Art Swap Shanty was originally part of the Art Shanty Projects on the middle of a frozen lake in Minnesota, and has since taken place in various settings around Minneapolis. CSAlove was a group exhibition and events celebrating Community Supported Agriculture.

[see current projects-in-progress on my tumblr]

[view work from 1999-2011]

or in my shops (below)

do some shopping

upcoming events

stay in touch:

Sign up for your choice of friday love notes, daily blog posts, weekly post round-up, or the occasional newsletter! It's all fun and it's all free!

Select a list: