Julie Dowling (artist) facts for kids

Julie Dowling (born 1969) is a talented Indigenous Australian artist. Her art style is called social realist, and it often explores what it means to be an Aboriginal person. Julie is proud to be a Badimaya First Nation woman.

Julie Dowling's Early Life

Julie Dowling was born in 1969 in Subiaco, a suburb of Perth, Australia. She has an identical twin sister named Carol. Carol is a university expert and makes radio documentaries.

Their mother, Veronica, belonged to the Badimaya nation. The Badimaya people's traditional lands are near Paynes Find and Yalgoo in Western Australia.

Family Influences

Julie's grandmother, Molly, was very important to her. Molly taught Julie a lot about her traditional culture. Molly had been taken from her family when she was young and sent to a Catholic orphanage. This was part of a sad time in Australian history.

Julie, her sister, and their mother often moved around Perth. They lived in public housing and worried about welfare agencies. When they traveled by train to visit their grandmother, their mother would point out people who might be hiding their Aboriginal heritage. She encouraged Julie to sketch them and Carol to talk to them. This helped Julie learn to observe people closely.

Education and Art Career

Julie Dowling went to St Francis Xavier School in Armadale and St. Joachim's School in Victoria Park. She studied art at different places.

In 1989, she earned a Diploma of Fine Art from the Claremont School of Art. There, she learned from realist teachers like Marcus Beilby. In 1992, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Curtin University. She was the first woman in her family to get a university degree.

Developing Her Artistic Style

In 1995, Julie had her first solo art show at Fremantle Arts Centre. She also earned an Associate Diploma in Visual Arts Management.

Julie's art uses a social realist style. This means her paintings show real-life situations and often focus on social issues. Her work explores what it means to be an Aboriginal person in Australia. Her art is shaped by her community, culture, and family experiences.

Her artwork is inspired by many different art forms. These include:

• European portrait painting
• Christian religious art
• Mexican muralism (large wall paintings)
• Papunya Tula dot painting (an Indigenous Australian art style)
• Noongar iconography (symbols and images from the Noongar people)

Awards and Recognition

Julie Dowling has received many awards and honors for her art. She was a finalist for the famous Archibald Prize in 2001, 2002, and 2013. She was also a finalist for the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2000 and 2013.

Major Art Awards

• In 2000, she won the Mandorla Art Award.
• In 2000, she also won the painting section of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.
• In 2002, Australian Art Collector magazine named her Australia's Most Collectible Artist.
• In 2006, Murdoch University gave her an Honorary Doctorate in Literature. This is a special degree that recognizes her achievements.

Selected Art Exhibitions

Julie Dowling's art has been shown in many places. She has had solo exhibitions in Australia and other countries. Some of these include:

• Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, WA Now: Julie Dowling - Babanyu (Friends for Life) (2018)
• Galerie Seippel, Cologne, Germany, Julie Dowling: Malga Gurlbarl (2017)
• Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, Geraldton, WA, Australia, Yagu Gurlbarl (Big Secret): New Works From Julie Dowling (2017)
• Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Perth, WA, Australia, Julie Dowling: Family and Friends (2012)