--- title: "Julie Curtiss Captures City's Quirks on Canvas" url: https://newscentral.site/julie-curtiss-captures-city-s-quirks-on-canvas/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Style" published: 2026-11-10T17:44:40.000Z updated: 2026-11-11T00:34:17.910Z id: 26f70452-8b50-4a71-93ba-d451203715d3 source: "Harper's Bazaar https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a74386157/julie-curtiss-unreal-gagosian/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/julie-curtiss-captures-city-s-quirks-on-canvas/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Julie Curtiss Captures City's Quirks on Canvas Artist Julie Curtiss finds inspiration in New York City's subtleties, from tiny apartment decor to Chinese restaurant aquariums. New York City is full of hidden wonders that can be easily overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, artist Julie Curtiss has made it her mission to capture these subtle moments on canvas. She finds inspiration in the city's quirks, from the decor of tiny apartments to the aquariums in Chinese restaurants. Curtiss' love for observing the small details in New York City is evident in her work. In fact, she enjoys walking around and taking in the big food photo montages that often adorn deli windows. These vibrant displays may seem garish at first glance, but Curtiss sees beauty in their kitsch appeal. One particular outing in 2025 on the Upper East Side proved to be a turning point for Curtiss' artistic vision. As she strolled through the neighborhood, she came across an intriguing scene: two women wearing fur coats and sporting postoperative compression face masks. This unusual sighting sparked her imagination and led to the creation of Makeover (2026), one of her most striking works. Makeover features the mysterious duo standing with their backs to the viewer, one of whom is smoking a cigarette in Curtiss' signature graphic style. The painting serves as a reflection on the city's emphasis on appearance over reality, where people constantly reinvent themselves and strive for perfection. New York City has been the focus of Julie Curtiss's artwork for some time now, although her initial project on this theme had to be put on hold while she completed other projects. Her exhibition at White Cube in Seoul required her attention, as did a show at Gagosian in Paris that explored domestic themes. Curtiss first arrived in New York City in 2010, having grown up in a French-Vietnamese household in Paris. Prior to this move, she worked as a studio assistant for KAWS and later for Jeff Koons. Throughout her time in the city, Curtiss continued to develop her unique painting style. As a young artist navigating the New York City art scene, Curtiss faced numerous challenges. However, it wasn't until 2017 that Hein Koh curated a booth for her at the Spring/Break Art Show, providing her with an important platform to showcase her work. New York City is a place where change is constant, making it difficult to feel secure about anything. This theme has been a recurring motif in Julie Curtiss's work, showcasing her fascination with the city's ever-changing landscape. Curtiss's life took a drastic turn when she welcomed her first child with husband Clinton King in 2024. Motherhood has had a significant impact on her art, as evident in Kitchen Appendages (2026), a vibrant painting of a chaotic household kitchen. The woman in the painting is barely visible, bent over and out of frame, while the pressure cooker spouts steam and smoke escapes from the open oven. The mid-century aesthetic in Kitchen Appendages draws inspiration from Chantal Akerman's film Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels (1972). Curtiss has described this painting as a portrait of a woman, but through her kitchen accessories. This blending of reality and fantasy is also seen in Squid and Whale (2026), where an intimate bedroom scene features two animals contorted together on a bed that's far too small for them. Julie Curtiss' artistic process is characterized by the transmutation of everyday images into unusual contexts, often blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. In her studio, Curtiss reflects on the passing of time and the peculiar nature of daily life, suggesting that as people age, experiences can become less tangible and more unpredictable. This sentiment is echoed in her paintings, where characters and situations are presented in unexpected ways, challenging viewers to reevaluate their perceptions. By withholding facial expressions from her subjects, Curtiss creates an intriguing dynamic that invites interpretation while also leaving some aspects open to speculation. Ultimately, she aims to transport viewers into the world of her paintings, if only for a brief moment, and experience life through her unique perspective. Julie Curtiss' paintings are not just static images, but rather snapshots of New York City's vibrant life. Each one is carefully crafted to tell a story, leaving viewers with a sense of frustration as they try to piece together the scene. Her inspiration comes from both movies and traditional paintings, but she prefers the still image for its ability to convey complex stories in a single frame. With multiple elements at play, her artwork invites viewers to immerse themselves in the world she has created, allowing them to experience life through her unique perspective. --- Source: [Harper's Bazaar](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a74386157/julie-curtiss-unreal-gagosian/) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/julie-curtiss-captures-city-s-quirks-on-canvas/