Julie Poulsen’s instinctive creativity and intuitive feel for colour and composition have been shaped by a life lived across diverse climates and cultures—from the deep green wilds of Papua New Guinea to the bright energy of Australia’s Gold Coast, and from traditional Toowoomba and the United Kingdom to frontier Cooktown in North Queensland, Australia.
Born and educated in Brisbane from mid-primary school, Julie spent a year in Cooktown in 1977 before moving to Toowoomba to complete a Diploma of Creative Arts at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education. In its open, exploratory environment, she developed an investigative approach that continues to drive her practice, engaging across printmaking, oils, soft sculpture and drawing.
Julie returned to painting in the late 1980s, balancing work and motherhood with characteristic determination. Her early works from this period are expressive and energetic, often layered with playful imagery inspired by her children’s drawings.
In 2002, her practice shifted towards a lighter, more open language—combining painting, drawing, printmaking and stitched assemblage. This evolution culminated in Décor Sermon (2005) at Cairns Regional Gallery, a 50-metre installation of stitched panels, found objects and bold imagery that reimagined the idea of interior décor.
She continued this playful analytical approach with Menu Board (2006–07), a series inspired by café signage, transforming everyday text and chalkboard aesthetics into poetic works rich with cultural and geographic undertones. Exhibited at KickArts Contemporary Arts in Cairns, the series highlighted her ability to elevate the familiar into something newly resonant.
Julie’s recent work Remainder+ continues to stretch the boundaries of the established formulas for aesthetics. She is currently exploring the charming imperfections in the discarded debris from energetic printmaking sessions.
Across her practice, Julie animates the everyday, coaxing new narratives from overlooked materials. Her work remains delightfully unpredictable—an ongoing testament to her inventive spirit and her commitment to visual exploration.
