Houmas House Gardens

Julie Brown is a New Orleans-based artist whose vibrant acrylic and collage works reflect her unique blend of architectural training and artistic exploration. A graduate of the Tulane University School of Architecture, Julie spent four decades shaping the built environment through her practice in healthcare architecture. However, what started as a hobby during her architectural career has blossomed into a passionate and all-encompassing art practice that she now calls an "addiction."

Her work is characterized by a rich use of bright colors, whimsical inspirations, and a distinct obsession with flowers. Drawing from the dynamic and eclectic spirit of New Orleans, her pieces convey a sense of joy, energy, and the beauty found in everyday life. Julie’s background in architecture influences her compositions, where structure and form blend seamlessly with her playful, imaginative expressions.

Julie Brown’s artwork invites viewers to engage with a world of color and whimsy, while also reflecting a deep appreciation for nature's enduring presence. Through her acrylics and collages, she captures the essence of life's fleeting moments, using flowers as a recurring motif to symbolize both beauty and resilience.

I’ve loved drawing and painting since I was a child, and practiced architecture for forty years. Towards the end of my career I took up abstract painting. I first thought it looked so easy...it’s not. I felt like the business of architecture and working on a computer for so many years had sapped my creativity, and abstract painting lets me loosen up and relax.

I paint when I’m happy. I paint when I’m in a funk, and it makes me happy. When I’m painting I forget about the present and paint intuitively, not thinking much beyond the brush strokes I just made and the brushstroke to come.

I’ve been studying at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. Born and raised in NOLA you can’t help but be influenced by the rich culture of architecture, music and food. I hope that this passion of mine comes through in my work, and you enjoy it.❤️

I’ve sold work in student shows and fairs such as the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, the N.O. Arts Council City Park Arts Market, the Covington Three Rivers Arts Festival as well as many pieces to my supportive circle of family and friends. Now is my opportunity to branch out and bring my happiness to your environment. It’s meant to be uplifting, engaging and to put a smile on your face!