Julie Johnston

Julie Johnston is a contemporary Canadian artist based in South Surrey, British Columbia. Born in Vancouver, she has spent much of her life immersed in the landscapes, colours and culture of the West Coast.

Johnston studied Fine Arts and English Literature at the University of British Columbia, earning a BA, BEd and MEd in Art Education. Alongside her studio practice, she has worked as an art educator since 1993, bringing more than three decades of experience in art and visual culture to her own creative practice.

Johnston’s work is inspired by three enduring passions: the landscapes of British Columbia, the Italian Renaissance, and graffiti. Her fascination with the West Coast began with the work of artists such as Emily Carr, W.P. Weston and the Group of Seven, whose bold interpretations of the Canadian landscape continue to influence her approach to colour, form and place.

A pivotal art history course at UBC sparked Johnston’s lifelong fascination with the Italian Renaissance. The architecture, symbolism, composition and visual storytelling of Renaissance Italy continue to find their way into her contemporary work. During travels throughout Europe, she also became captivated by the energy and visual language of graffiti—particularly its expressive typography, colour and immediacy. As a longtime calligrapher, Johnston was naturally drawn to the graphic qualities of lettering and mark-making.

Her current studio practice has focused primarily on her West Coast Arbutus Series, inspired by the distinctive trees, waterways and islands of British Columbia. She is now expanding this body of work into a more contemporary visual language that brings together her three major influences: landscape, Renaissance imagery and graffiti. The result is a vibrant exploration of place, memory, colour and visual storytelling.

While painting is central to her practice, Johnston also works in illustration, photography, sculpture and digital media. Her diverse practice reflects her curiosity and her interest in exploring new ways to communicate ideas through visual art.

Johnston is a member of the Society of Canadian Artists, Federation of Canadian Artists, and South Surrey White Rock Art Society.