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Julia Holden

Julia Holden is a graduate of Elam, School of Fine Arts and Monash University, Melbourne. Consistently experimenting with modes of representation and presentation, Holden has developed an innovative relational painting practice employing strategies focused upon encouraging community connection, public interaction and social engagement.

Holden has been exhibiting regularly in New Zealand and Australia since 2010, and from 2014 Performance Painting has become an important part of her practice. She gained recognition for her Lyttelton Redux series (2016-17), which reconnected people with the early history of Canterbury’s first port at a time when so much of the township’s historical buildings were demolished. Twenty-three portraits of participating locals were accompanied by audio-visual material reflecting on their forbears and Lyttelton’s history. First exhibited  as Walking Tour throughout Lyttelton Township followed by an exhibition at Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Draped Nude (Audrey Baldwin, after Henri Matisse), was performed at the Auckland Art Gallery.  #WishYouWereHereChch, (2014) Holden’s 5 billboard and accompanying postcard edition was a public installation touring Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

In 2018 Julia Holden was Artist in Residence at Tylee Cottage in Whanganui and during the same year was awarded highly commended for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Heritage’ at the Canterbury Heritage Awards. In 2019 she was awarded a grant from Creative New Zealand’s Suffrage 125 Fund, and won the Vermont Residency in the Wallace Art Awards. Her 2024 series, The Artist, was made while Artist in Residence at Dunedin School of Art.

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Exhibitions:
2024 – The Artist
2022 – A Day At The Beach
2019 – Newly Formed
2018 – Fanfiction

Artist’s website