Julia Paige/ Juju Rootz Art
Julia Paige is an emerging fine artist and multidisciplinary painter whose practice includes expressionist portraits, figurative works, abstract paintings, and mixed media pieces. Degreed in Education and Fine Arts, she is also a self-taught artist and designer. A single mother of four, she was born in New York in 1970 to second-generation Italian Americans.
Paige draws inspiration from her own life experiences—from growing up in New York during the seventies and eighties to raising her family in the culturally vibrant city of Miami in the nineties. She has also served as a counselor, Language Arts teacher, and community event organizer. In 2022, she launched her art and design website, Juju Rootz, which serves as both an artistic portfolio and a shop featuring original paintings, limited edition prints, artistic clothing, and artisan goods.
Her vivid artwork combines nearly realistic portraits and figurative subjects with natural elements, abstracted symbols, patterns, and shapes. Deeply informed by her life experiences, Paige’s work reflects her awareness of the interconnected world and her reverence for it.
Several common themes woven throughout her collection include reflections on the beauty, diversity, and enduring strength of women around the world—expressions of the interconnected divine feminine. Through layered detail and emotional depth, her expressionist paintings are imbued with raw, ethereal energy that invites viewers to engage in thoughtful contemplation and emotional connection.
Paige has been approved and invited to several major fine art fairs across the country, including Spectrum Miami at Art Basel and the Superfine Art Fair. She recently held a pop-up exhibition during the Last Friday Art Walk in Eugene, Oregon, which was well received and resulted in multiple sales. She continues to participate in local art markets and recently hosted her first studio open house.
Her mixed media textile work Sister’s was featured in the We’Moon 2024 calendar. She was also included in Sfumato Art Gallery’s first publication 100 Emerging Artists Worldwide and its virtual exhibition Harmony in Contrast: Abstract & Figurative Dialogues (May 2024).
Currently, Paige is developing new series of large-scale expressionist and abstract paintings in acrylics, oils, cold wax, and other media from her home studio. She is actively seeking gallery representation, affordable art fairs, and new artistic opportunities.
Contact
jujurootz.com
jujurootz@gmail.com / info@jujurootz.com
@jujurootz
interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
I am inspired by so many things, by people, by strength, resilience, kindness, nature and peoples efforts for connection and holding a deeper sense of humanity. I am and stay motivated because I am passionate about art; via self expression and honing my skills, techniques to develop immensely powerful work that speaks to the viewers through emotional response to the work.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
I think my mission as an artist is multilayered, as I have so much to express and share of what I see and experience in life and hope to convey through my paintings. I am honoring and answering my souls call of being an artist and my mission is to become the best artist I can be in terms of my skills and overall the subjects through which I convey meaning. I think it influences my work because of my devotion and dedication I have in showing up everyday to deeper my abilities of expression.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
A key part of my creative process is to show up daily for myself and for my art. I am an emotionally responsive person and in my head a lot and my way to balance out my moods is to make a habit of going into my studio everyday and working on art, even it’s just to do some sketchbook work. Another key part is that being creative, expressing myself through art is what gives me joy, passion and a sense of purpose so in a way also that is what gives me the motivation to show up even if I’m not always sure of how etc.. Currently, I have multiple paintings going on at once as I am working on developing several series/ collections of my work. The next level to habit is discipline and key to this is setting my intentions, and following through on completing what I’ve started!
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
My mindset tip is “to never give up.” Show up for your art everyday, when you can and how you can and to celebrate your wins and in my case be realistic, but stay inspired. Accept what is, but plan for what you hope for; even if you don’t always get what you want, when you want it, your still creating everyday, still pursuing what you love in your own authentic way and that in itself is a precious success. Sometimes its wonderful and sometimes quite a challenge especially if your seriously attempting to build a successful art business where you are actively showing your work, making a notable impact with your work, and you are attempting to make consistent sales especially from the grassroots level of being an emerging artist.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I truly hope people who see my work are affected emotionally and feel a connection to the subject and are compelled to further discussion. I believe and have been told my art is beautiful and intriguing and deeply reflective. My work impacts the world by adding beauty and depth and passion and I think that my process of creating art and building my art business is inspiring to others and helps to encourage people to be motivated to pursue their own dreams.
