Julia Martens

is a self-taught artist, born and currently residing in the west coast of Canada.
She sells her originals and prints on her website and at markets, does commissions in her style, exhibits her work, illustrates book and album covers, and does set design for film.
Martens uses watercolours and ink to pay homage to The Golden Age of Illustration, a style that is no longer in fashion. She desires to bring forth feelings of nostalgia, wonder, and curiosity in each of her pieces, telling a story within her work; she aims to invoke twin feelings of beauty and uncomfortableness, her goal being to make viewers believe that her work is from 150 years ago. In an age where everything is progressively getting more digital, Martens is fully reverting into the traditional methods of art and illustration.
She uses her pieces to tell a story; Martens has her own personal meanings attached to the pieces she creates, but invites viewers to create their own. Often, her pieces are connected with one another. 

Current / Upcoming Shows + Collaborations:
2022   EXHIBITIONS + POP-UPS:
         Jan. 26, 27 / "SPAWN" group exhibition at Issue Studio
           
Previous Shows + Collaborations:
2022   Nov 4, 5, 6th Vintage Barn Market / Chilliwack Heritage Barn
          Sept. 9th 5pm-10pm / Fort Langley Night Market         
          Sept. 15th 4pm-8pm / Autumn Art + Wine Walk; Vintelier in Downtown Abbotsford
          August 21, 10am-4pm/ Chilliwack Pride Market, Downtown Chilliwack
          July 18-23 / Residency in Norway with Light Grey Art Lab
          July 1st, August 12th 5pm-10pm / Fort Langley Night Market
          June 26, 10am-4pm / Chilliwack Farmer's Market, Downtown Chilliwack
          May 26, 4pm-8pm / Spring Art + Wine Walk; Vintelier in Downtown Abbotsford
          May 5-21 / Shadow & Line group exhibition at Kariton Gallery
          April 30th 10-4pm / Live Painting at Windsor Greenhouse 
          April 9th 10am-3pm / Mt Lehman Market
          Feb 5 + 6 / Feel Good Market at Richmond Lavender Farm
2021  Sept 25 / BC Culture Days "A Study of Birds"
         Sept 24-25 / Abby Theatre Fest (Introductions; art film)
         Sept / Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival - Virtual Art Walk
         August / Downtown Abbotsford Mural - Montrose Ave
         Abbotsford News Article July
         Abbotsford News Article March
2020  Nov 16-20 / Tedx and Abbotsford Arts Council - Perception 
         Oct 10-18 / South Delta Artfully Anonymous - Online Exhibition
          Aug-Sept / Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival - Virtual Art Walk
          July 10-25 / #HomeGalleryLAC Surprise Exhibition - AIFS Gallery Online
          July 1-22 / A Little Bit Of Art - Kariton Gallery Online
          June 1-22 / Strange Times - Kariton Gallery Online
2018   July / Anonymous Art Show - Kariton Gallery