The environment tells us a story and we use nature to narrate our lives. From bestiaries to romanticized beaches and the Garden of Eden to miniature pets. My interest lies not in the practical aspects of nature as a critical resource but instead in our society’s ability to imagine the world through the environment.

My artwork communicates a complicated and sometimes humorous world. I begin each piece with visual associations, allegories and satire. At times I may reference film, religion, the media and ornamentation. I am constantly rethinking my art and this allows my working process to be open ended. At the root of my playful and sometimes satirical images is a desire to be more connected to my surroundings. My experience is that the term “natural,” is contradictory and multi-dimensional. I hope that my work will pose questions regarding how we reinvent our surroundings and the ways in which our culture has created a certain reality in contemporary times.


Julie Cardillo '11