Julia Riley was born and raised in Oakland, CA, and graduated from Mills College in 2016. Always a compulsive creator, she began experimenting with wood in her senior year of college, and swiftly became enamored. She has since worked with birch, basswood, olive and redwood, incorporating media such as acrylic, wood stain, ink, metal leaf, carving, and burning (pyrography). With a deep respect for both labor and materials, she synthesizes the natural characteristics of wood with dense, intricate marks to illuminate underlying compositions and reveal obsessively detailed textures. Riley’s work echoes patterns in the natural world, including the human body. She draws inspiration from experiences outdoors, in communion with nature, and from anatomical illustration. She has created works influenced heavily by imagery from biology, astronomy, alchemy, and computer science.
For inquiries, contact Julia.Angela.Riley@gmail.com