Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Bustillo.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am the daughter of Alba Luz Bustillo, Honduran immigrant recipient of TPS (Temporary Protected Status). I grew up in Boyle Heights where I lived in the Wyvern wood Apartments on 8th Street during the 90s. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment with two other families. Eventually we moved to East L.A. where I attended East Los Angeles College, here I began my interest in Art. I took every art class available to me before I decided to officially declare Art as my major, I transferred to Cal State Long Beach in 2013 and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in drawing and painting. During my undergrad studies I was granted scholarships and the opportunity to study abroad in Tianjin, China where I participated in various juried exhibitions and my first solo show. I now still live in East L.A. and have a studio in the Arts District Co-op.
Please tell us about your art.
I am interested in the everyday consumption of information. By repeating images and objects that come from automatic drawings or photographs, I discuss the immediacy and absorption of information. My two sources of information are television and photographs created with a disposable camera and cellphone. Television allows me to play with the idea of immediacy. Moving images force me to quickly absorb and edit. “Objects”, are what I call any shape that I pull from my still photographs. By juxtaposing my automatic drawings and photos, I create invented worlds where the culmination of information creates a feeling of place, in which process and particularity co-exist.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Participate in the world you want to belong to. If you are being proactive within a community you will find yourself connecting with other artists. Support the artists you know, participate in local events, and utilize social platforms like Instagram and Facebook to reach out.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I now currently have a painting on view at Art Share L.A. in their Perimeter gallery space up until June 6th. On July 14th me and three of my colleagues will be self-curating a pop-up exhibition in the Los Angeles Fashion District. Information on these exhibitions and my work can be found in my Instagram account.
Contact Info:
- Email: anajulieb@gmail.com
- Instagram: juliaanaaaab
Image Credit:
@juliaanaaaab
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