Julie Owens

I am a seventh generation Nebraskan on one side of my family, and the descendant of New England textile mill workers on the other. Sewing is my first creative language, and has been a part of my life from a very young age. Through my work I explore ideas of place, lineage, longing, and belonging. A former textile designer, I love exploring the interplay of different patterns and colors and the push/pull of positive and negative space. My work is influenced by traditional quilt motifs, as well as modern graphic design. I am drawn to the tactile nature and approachability of quilts. I hope the viewer finds a sense of visual comfort in my work, in addition to considering a familiar medium in a new way. 

 

Julie received her BS in Textiles, Clothing, and Design and her BFA in Studio Art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also studied at the American Intercontinental University in London. She worked as a bedding designer for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in New York, with a focus on quilts.