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Julia Butkin

Julia Butkin (b. 2003, Tulsa, OK) is in artist based in Tulsa, OK. Her work explores themes of femininity and western culture through the lens of representational oil painting. Butkin is influenced by the people around her, fashion, and the drive to create work that is simultaneously beautiful  and rugged.  She received her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design in the  Spring of 2026.

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Artist Statement

Through my studio practice and paintings featuring women and symbols of the west, I investigate elegance, femininity, and tradition. 

My work is representational and encompasses the life experience of the subject and process of painting. This is seen in the boot portraits with every wrinkle, scuff, and tear serving as a memory for the places these boots have been. In my more figurative pieces the process of painting is seen in the finished piece as I often leave parts of the figure un-rendered or blend them into the background furthering the importance of the environment. Using color psychology, I illustrate the emotional landscape of the subject and to demonstrate the role that our environments can have on us. I was brought up surrounded by women who were just as strong as they were nurturing. Because of this I depict women in a variety of ways to illustrate the complexities of femininity. 

I am inspired by fashion photography and hours spent flipping through magazines or scrolling social media looking at photos that use high contrast lighting and striking poses. An admiration for the hard-work, grit, and hospitality that are characteristic of western culture combines with a love of fashion to serve as a backbone to my art. 

CV

Invitational Gallery, Tulsa Mayfest, Tulsa, OK - 2025

Fine Arts Showcase, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA - 2025

Livewire, Camaleon, Savannah, GA- 2026

Senior Showcase, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA - 2026

Western Art Show, Greeley Stampede (Upcoming), Greeley, CO - 2026

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