Julianna Byrne
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Julianna Byrne studied illustration at London College of Communication, graduating in 2014. She lived in London for years before moving to Cornwall after her first daughter was born. Being near the sea changed her work. She paints mythological figures, nymphs, flora and glowing landscapes, all pulled from a long obsession with Greek and Irish folklore. Her earlier work leaned heavily on line drawing, but lately she does far less of that and works more abstractly. She has a solo show coming up at Turn Shop in Hackney this summer.
Q: You graduated in illustration from LCC and now you're making paintings in Cornwall. How did that journey happen?
A: I started off in London and absolutely loved it. I still love going back, seeing friends, visiting galleries. But after my first daughter was born I made the move to Cornwall, and it's been incredible. Being by the sea has completely gotten into my soul and really changed my work. It was a big shift, but one I'm genuinely glad I made.
Q: Your work is full of mythology, nymphs, and dreamlike landscapes. Where does that world come from?
A: I'm obsessed with mythology. Greek, Irish, folklore. I've always been fascinated by the ethereal, and I find the representation of women in mythology so beautiful. There's a divine femininity to it that I'm completely drawn to.
Q: You describe the work as "spooky yet serene." That's a nice line to walk. Is that balance something you aim for, or does it just happen?
A: It's not something I consciously strive for. I've always been drawn to things that feel otherworldly, and I suppose that naturally carries a certain spookiness, but I only ever see beauty in it. The serenity comes from that, I think.
Q: You trained in illustration. Does that still show in how you compose a painting?
A: Definitely—sometimes it's hard to get out of that frame of mind and be more abstract. But I've come to love it rather than fight it.
Q: You had a solo at Alex Eagle Gallery back in 2018. How different is the work you're making now from what you showed then?
A: Really different in many ways, but with the same essence and soul. The main shift is that I'm doing far less line drawing now. I feel like I've broken through some boundaries.
Q: You have a solo coming up at Turn Shop in Hackney this summer. What can you tell us about it?
A: I'm really excited. It will be a really lovely one. Turn is such a cool space. I can't wait to share what I make.
