Statement

Julia Shepley’s sculpture integrates two and three dimensional elements using cast glass, stitched fabric, threaded or drawn lines. She takes universal images such as buttons, cooking pans, windows and marine life-saving rings, changes the scale and alters the materials, to convey their iconic power as focal points for human attachment and memory. A needle, thread, drawn line or shadow connect the sculptural element with a two dimensional plane and emphasize a sense of potential motion or transition. She works in series of related pieces which can be shown in a group installation, in pairs or individually. Shepley is a member of Boston Sculptors Gallery, is represented in museum and library collections in the Boston area and works out of her studio in the Brickbottom Artists Building in Somerville, MA

“Shepley is an artist of the poetic and insubstantial. We seem to be looking at embodiments of memory, traces in time, and delicate dreams, opening up countless possibilities of allusion, illusion, and fantasy.” Alicia Faxon, “Art New England”

“Julia Shepley’s new works are as much drawing as sculpture. Their elusive effects- shadows, transparency, illusion- are made possible by odd materials… She draws beautifully. The 3-D pieces seem more fragile, their references richer.” The arches [in the Imprint Windows Series] are stitched in places that are not seams, creating scarification patterns and a sense of activity reiterated in the glass that fills them. Flowing and bulging, the glass is to be looked at as much as through. But don’t miss what’s behind it: shadows as interesting as the tangible forms that cast them.” Christine Temin, “The Boston Globe”

EDUCATION

Boston University School for Fine Arts, BFA, 1980
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA 1976

SOLO AND SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SINCE 1995)

2006 A.I.R. Gallery, NYC, NY, Solo show of sculpture (upcoming in November)
2006 Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA, “Boston Sculptors” Sculpture
2006 Boston Sculptors Gallery, Boston, MA, “Baste”, solo show of sculpture and drawing
Decordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA, “Great Buys: Recent Acqusitions” , print
2006 Atleborro Museum, Attleboro, Ma, Sculpture

2004 Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA, “Presence of Light”, Sculpture
2004 Harbor Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA,“Origins / Outcomes”, Sculpture
2004 A.I.R. Gallery, NYC, NY, National Members Exhibition, Sculptural installation

Duxbury Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA, “ Collection Connection” sculpture & drawing

2003 State House, Boston/ ARTSWorcester, Worcester/ Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville
“3” Massachusetts Cultural Council Visual Fellowship exhibit, sculpture

2003 The Carving Studio and sculpture Center Gallery, W. Rutland, Vermont,“ Julia Shepley”, sculpture, drawing

2003 A.I.R. Gallery, NYC, NY, “ National Members exhibition”, sculpture

2002 Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA, “Float” (solo exhibition)
2002 I.C.A. Maine College of Art,, Portland, ME, “Terrain: Sculpture Today”
2002 A.I.R Gallery, NYC, NY, “National Members Exhibition”
2002 Illuminations Light Show, Somerville, MA ,outdoor projections
2002 Boston Sculptors Gallery, Newton, MA, “On The Move”
2002 New England Biolabs, Hamilton, MA

2001 A.I.R. Gallery, NYC, NY, “National Members Exhibition,”
2001 Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA, “Self Portraits”
2001 Boston Public Library, Boston, MA, “The Workshop Portfolio”
Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA, “The Creative Process”

2000 RAU University, Johannesburg, South Africa, “Workshop Portfolio 2000”
2000 The Atrium Gallery, Providence, RI, “Visions Toward Wellness 2000”
The Laura Knott Gallery, Bradford College, Haverhill, MA, “Affinities”
2000 Gallery on the Hudson, Irvington, NY, “Common Threads”

Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA “Sculpture & Drawing: the Space in Between” (solo exhibition)
1999 The Federal Reserve Bank Gallery, Boston, MA, “Material Connection: Boston-Paris”
The New Arts Center, Newton, MA, “A Common Thread”


Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
“Contemporary Sculpture and Sculptors’ Drawings”
1998 DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA, “Great Buys: Recent Acquisitions”
A La Cite Internationale Des Arts, Paris, France
“Biennale Internationale de Tapisseries Contemporaines et de Sculpture,”
1998 Mills Gallery, Boston, MA, “The Drawing Show”
New England Biolabs, Hamilton, MA, “New Work”

1997 Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA, “Figments” (solp exhibition)
1997 The American Heart Association, Providence, RI, “The Healing Heart”
1997 Dinnerware Gallery of Contemporary Art, Tuscon, AZ
Outdoor Installation, Somerville, MA, “Invisible Cities Theatre Production”

McMullen Museum of Modern Art, Chestnut Hill, MA
Inspired by Nature, Contemporary View”
1996 Chinese Cultural Institute, Boston, MA, “Transforming Traditions”
Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA ,“Bronzes 18”

1995 Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA, “Pulse” (solo exhibition)
1995 Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA, “Landmarks”
Boston University Art Gallery, Boston, MA, “Alumni Drawings”

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS (SINCE 1995)

New England Foundation for the Arts; sculpture fellow, 1995
Somerville Arts Council; sculpture grant, 2001

BIBLIOGRSPHY ( SINCE 1995)

Art New England, Julia Shepley, “Baste”, Alicia Faxon, 2006
The Boston Globe, “Magic in the Mundane” Julia Shepley, “Baste”, Cate McQuaid, 2006
The Tab, Julia Shepley, “ Baste”, 2006
Sunday Republican, “Presence of light”, Gloria Russell, 2004
Sculpture, “Julia Shepley”, Marty Carlock, November 2002
Boston Herald, “Capturing Sea Changes”, Joanne Silver, 2002
Arts Media, “Form Follows Fantasy in ‘ Float’”, Lisa Falco, 2002
The Portland Phoenix, “This is Sculpture”, Jenna Russell, 2002
Maine Sunday telegram, “On Solid Ground”, Phillip Isaacson, 2002
Boston Globe, “Boston Sculptors looks for new home”, Christine Temin, 2002
Art New England, Julia Shepley,“Sculpture & Drawing: the space in between,” Alicia Faxon, 1999
The Boston Globe, Julia Shepley“Sculpture & Drawing: the space in between,” Christine Temin, 1999
Art New England, “A Common Thread,” Marty Carlock, 1999
The Boston Globe, “A Common Thread,” Marty Carlock, 1999
The Boston Globe, “Weaving Art into the Material World,” Christine Temin, 1999
The Boston Globe, “An Artist Who Conflates Flesh and Spirit,” Cate McQuaid, 1998
The Boston Herald, “BCA Drawing Show,” Joanne Silver, 1998
Improper Bostonian, Julia Shepley Figments,” Kriston Bisson, 1997
The Boston Globe, Julia Shepley Figments,” Christine Temin, 1997
The Healing Heart, Catalogue, 1997
The Boston Globe, “Women Artists Render the Gender Gap,” Cate McQuaid, 1996
The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, “A Haven for Sculpture,” Christine Temin, 1996
The Boston Globe,,Julia Shepley “Pulse,” Christine Temin, 1995

COLLECTIONS

Boston Public Library, Boston, MA
De Cordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA
Rose Art Museum, Waltham, MA
Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA
Bank of Boston, Boston, MA

EDUCATION

Boston University School for Fine Arts, BFA, 1980
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA 1976

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SINCE 1990)

2002 I.C.A. Maine College of Art,Portland, ME, “Terrain: Sculpture Today”
2002 A.I.R Gallery, NYC, NY, “National Members Exhibition”
2002 Illuminations Light Show, Somerville, MA ,outdoor projections
2002 Boston Sculptors gallery, Newton, MA, “On The Move”
2002 New England Biolabs, Hamilton, MA

2001 A.I.R. Gallery, NYC, NY, “National Members Exhibition,”
2001 Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA, “Self Portraits”
2001 Boston Public Library, Boston, MA, “The Workshop Portfolio”
Brickbottom Gallery, Somerville, MA, “The Creative Process”

2000 RAU University, Johannesburg, South Africa, “Workshop Portfolio 2000”
2000 The Atrium Gallery, Providence, RI, “Visions Toward Wellness 2000”
The Laura Knott Gallery, Bradford College, Haverhill, MA, “Affinities”

Gallery on the Hudson, Irvington, NY, “Common Threads”
1999 The Federal Reserve Bank Gallery, Boston, MA, “Material Connection: Boston-Paris”
The New Arts Center, Newton, MA, “A Common Thread”

Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
“Contemporary Sculpture and Sculptors’ Drawings”
1998 DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA, “Great Buys: Recent Acquisitions”
A La Cite Internationale Des Arts, Paris, France
“Biennale Internationale de Tapisseries Contemporaines et de Sculpture,”
1998 Mills Gallery, Boston, MA, “The Drawing Show”
New England Biolabs, Hamilton, MA, “New Work”

1997 The American Heart Association, Providence, RI, “The Healing Heart”
1997 Dinnerware Gallery of Contemporary Art, Tuscon, AZ

1997 Outdoor Installation, Somerville, MA, “Invisible Cities Theatre Production”
McMullen Museum of Modern Art, Chestnut Hill, MA
Inspired by Nature, Contemporary View”
1996 Chinese Cultural Institute, Boston, MA, “Transforming Traditions”

Boston Sculptors at Chapel Gallery, Newton, MA ,“Bronzes 18”

1995 Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA, “Landmarks”
Boston University Art Gallery, Boston, MA, “Alumni Drawings”

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHOPS

New England Foundation for the Arts; sculpture fellow, 1995
Somerville Arts Council; sculpture grant, 1990

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sculpture, “Julia Shepley”, Marty Carlock, November 2002
Boston Herald, “Capturing Sea Changes”, Joanne Silver, 2002
Arts Media, “Form Follows Fantasy in ‘ Float’”, Lisa Falco, 2002
The Portland Phoenix, “This is Sculpture”, Jenna Russell, 2002
Maine Sunday telegram, “On Solid Ground”, Phillip Isaacson, 2002
Boston Globe, “Boston Sculptors looks for new home”, Christine Temin, 2002
Art New England, “Sculpture & Drawing: the space in between,” Alicia Faxon, 1999
The Boston Globe, “Sculpture & Drawing: the space in between,” Christine Temin, 1999
Art New England, “A Common Thread,” Marty Carlock, 1999
The Boston Globe, “A Common Thread,” Marty Carlock, 1999
The Boston Globe, “Weaving Art into the Material World,” Christine Temin, 1999
The Boston Globe, “An Artist Who Conflates Flesh and Spirit,” Cate McQuaid, 1998
The Boston Herald, “BCA Drawing Show,” Joanne Silver, 1998
Improper Bostonian, “Figments,” Kriston Bisson, 1997
The Boston Globe, “Figments,” Christine Temin, 1997
The Healing Heart, Catalogue, 1997
The Boston Globe, “Women Artists Render the Gender Gap,” Cate McQuaid, 1996
The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, “A Haven for Sculpture,” Christine Temin, 1996
The Boston Globe, “Pulse,” Christine Temin, 1995

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Boston Public Library, Boston, MA
De Cordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA
Rose Art Museum, Waltham, MA
Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA
Bank of Boston, Boston, MA