Julia Chuquis is an Australian contemporary artist known for abstract expressionist paintings that unite emotional depth with refined visual presence. Her work explores the relationship between feeling, nature, and the spaces we inhabit, creating paintings intended not only to be viewed, but to be lived with.
This profile features selected works from Julia Chuquis’ ongoing body of work.
At the core of Chuquis’ practice is the belief that beauty is not superficial — it is felt, lived, and remembered. She approaches painting as a way of shaping atmosphere and emotional experience within the home, creating works that move the viewer while also bringing balance, calm, and visual harmony to interior spaces.
Drawing inspiration from nature’s rhythms, imperfections, and sense of equilibrium, Chuquis works primarily with acrylics and oils, building layered surfaces through intuitive yet disciplined gesture. Her palettes are informed by colours observed in the natural world, resulting in paintings that feel grounded, open, and quietly expressive. Joy, optimism, and balance are central to her process — not as themes, but as lived values translated onto the canvas.
Chuquis’ paintings are conceived as statement works that hold space rather than dominate it. Rather than offering fixed narratives, her work remains open to interpretation, allowing collectors to form a personal and evolving connection over time.
Her work has been exhibited in galleries across Australia and internationally and is held in private and corporate collections worldwide. Chuquis has received notable recognition, including Winner of Artio Art Gallery, New York (2025) and Finalist in the Bluethumb Art Prize (2023).
Her paintings have also appeared in major media and popular culture, including features on The Block and Channel 7’s Dream Home, as well as in the Hollywood feature film Ricky Stanicky, starring Zac Efron and John Cena. These placements reflect the work’s ability to move seamlessly between cultural relevance and refined contemporary interiors.
Based in South Australia, Julia Chuquis continues to develop a cohesive body of work centred on sanctuary, presence, and self-expression — creating paintings that quietly transform how a space feels, and how we feel within it.