Evolution throught small things, started after years in the fashion industry.Therefore Giulia Gray shifted her focus to art, delving into the human experience through her work. Her art is a blend of instinct and contemplation, where emotions and study intertwine with impulses and reason.
Giulia, tell us about yourself.
I’ve always been painting and taking photographs, ever since I was a child, painting with oil on canvas.
Growing up, my two passions were art and fashion. Opting to study and work in fashion allowed me to keep art in a more ‘untouched’ realm. After attending fashion school in Florence and Polimoda, I joined La Perla in Bologna as a stylist. For twenty years, I pursued a successful career in design until I rediscovered my love for painting. In 2021, I made the leap to fully dedicate myself to art, and it’s been rewarding. Despite being new to this field, I’ve had positive responses: selling pieces, engaging with critics and galleries. It’s a new journey, but I feel I’m on the right path.
How do you create your art?
It depends. Among the artworks I proposed to Cinquerosso Arte, there are, for example, some studies featuring my cat, Spuma. When I started painting again, I wanted to develop new techniques using different materials: I mix ink and watercolor, use salt and other products to achieve particular reactions. Spuma is a muse that I always have around, since I paint at home, in my studio. His portraits essentially come from the opportunity to have a subject always available for poses. Furthermore, he is very suitable for what I want to do, also thanks to his colors.
In other artworks, some have an abstract essence.
Yes, all of a sudden after the initial period, I started doing a completely different type of work. Something much more introspective about personal growth and the general evolution of human beings. It’s quite a challenging research, which indeed leans towards abstraction. Furthermore, I don’t work olny as a painter, because I’m also interested in photography and video art, but the theme remains the same: exploring the everyday, understanding how human evolution stems from the simplest things, the smallest ones. I focus a lot on the context of home and intimacy, everything that is very intimate and daily, which we usually don’t observe because it seems mundane. Like a cat, precisely.
How much of your work is rational and how much is instinctive?
Basically, my painting is a spontaneous, instinctive expression that stems from personal work, meditation, and therapy. It reflects my experiences, emotions, and the broader spectrum of human existence. However, I aim for it to be relatable and open to interpretation, allowing each viewer to make it their own. The works are designed to be modular and customizable, creating something unique and evolving.
How are you finding Cinquerosso Arte?
Great. It seems like a very professional organization, and everyone is very friendly. It’s an exciting project that I feel enthusiastic about. I hope it continues, and for now, the impressions are very positive.
