Artist Julia Gash recently painted live at the UMass Store, highlighting her unique ability to blend art with cultural heritage. Known for her playful renditions of cities, countries, and schools, Gash’s artwork features vibrant colors, distinct line drawings, and an emphasis on typography.
Gash’s passion for art began in childhood, sparked by a family trip across Europe that left a lasting impression. Encouraged by her father, a printmaker, she and her sister documented their travels through drawings and journals. However, her artistic career took shape in 2012 while running a manufacturing company in Sheffield, England. Faced with a lack of new artwork from retail partners during the London Summer Olympics, Gash seized the opportunity to create a playful city map, marking her debut into cityscape art.
Her first cityscape, a tribute to London, incorporated iconic landmarks like Big Ben alongside cultural elements such as afternoon tea. This success led to further requests from distributors, prompting her to pivot from manufacturing to focus solely on her art, which now includes over 600 collaborations.
For her collegiate designs, Gash collaborates closely with clients to incorporate essential symbols and imagery. Her UMass design features the campus pond and library falcons. Utilizing traditional ink and paint techniques, she embraces the fluidity of the medium, noting the dynamic relationship between her brush and the canvas.
Although her busy schedule has limited her recent travels, Gash remains committed to her craft. She recalls a recent trip to Greece, where she hiked the Peloponnese mountains, emphasizing that her favorite destination is always “the last one.” Currently based in her seaside home with her cats and chickens, Gash continues to produce work that captures the essence of place. For more about her career and to view her artwork, visit her official website or explore her designs at the UMass Store.
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