Julie Arkell

Julie Arkell (1955 – ) is a renowned artist from England, UK. She is recognised for her unique style that blends contemporary Folk Art with mixed media. Arkell’s work is characterised by the use of papier-mâché, vintage fabrics, scraps of poems, and words she loves, as well as knits and stitching. Her art is inspired by old toys, paintings, stories, and folk art, and she often incorporates found objects into her pieces. This approach aligns her with key 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso and Duchamp, as well as the Pop Art movement. Her technique involves building up layers of newspaper and wallpaper paste, painting with a primary coat of white emulsion, and applying layers of gouache paint. She also uses children’s modelling clay for some of the three-dimensional elements. Arkell’s work is imbued with a sense of memories, charm, and whimsy, reflecting the spirit of being part of everyday life.