Julie Orr is a Los Angeles-based artist whose work explores the contradictions of contemporary consumer culture, examining society’s preoccupation with consumption, disposability, and detachment. Drawing on pop aesthetics, vibrant colors, and familiar imagery, her work engages with the rituals of modern life, from texting and social media to purchasing an iced latte in a single-use plastic cup. Beneath the playful surfaces lies a more complicated narrative. Both critical of and captivated by the objects and behaviors she portrays, Orr explores the tension between attraction and repulsion, revealing our conflicted relationship with the culture we consume. Her work reflects a world in which we are not only the consumers, but also the consumed.

In addition to her fine art practice, Orr has worked as a designer for major Hollywood productions, including Top Chef Masters 2, Lopez Tonight!, a Snoop Dogg photoshoot, and The Swell Season’s “Low Rising” music video. She holds an MFA from Claremont Graduate University and a BA from Kenyon College. Orr is also the owner and director of Art Lessons LA, a mobile art education and events company that encourages creativity, experimentation, and self-expression through hands-on artistic experiences.

Email
julieorrtheartist@gmail.com

CV

Julie Orr
Lives and works in Los Angeles, California.

EDUCATION

Claremont Graduate University | Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art | 2013

Kenyon College | Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art | 2004

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

What I have to offer | Conchi Sanford Curatorial and LGT! | Fullerton, CA | 2014

CONCESSION to the OBSESSION | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, CA | 2013

Intangible Navigations | Frontrunner Gallery | New York, NY | 2011

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

An Annual Affair | Frontrunner Gallery | New York, NY | 2017

Land of the Smokes | Last Projects | Los Angeles, CA | 2016

MAS Attack | Torrance Art Museum | Torrance, CA | 2016

LAnCV | Coachella Valley Art Center | Palm Springs, CA | 2016

Raw: Hollywood Presents Futures | Boulevard 3 | Los Angeles, CA | January 14, 2015

Art Makes Change-LA Vision Fest | Bergamont Station Museum | Santa Monica, CA | 2015

MAS QUE | Temporary Space with the Torrance Art Museum | 2015

Artist Liaison for an Odyssey – 10 Years at TAM | Torrance Art Museum | Torrance, CA | September 12th, 2015

Revolving Artist Series | Spacedust Gallery | Los Angeles, CA |2015

5th Annual Juried Exhibition | Gallery 110 | Seattle, Washington | February 2015

4th Annual Armstrong National 2-D Competition Exhibition | Armstrong Atlantic State University Gallery | Atlanta, Georgia | January 2015

PLASTICS ARE FOREVER | Illuminoidal Arts | Long Beach, CA | 2014

Salivate | LGT | Fullerton, CA | 2014

ARTRA in MAS ATTACK | Torrance Art Museum | Torrance, CA | 2013

Plastic Sunshine | Ground Space Project | Los Angeles, CA | 2013

You are the ocean and I am drowning | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, CA | 2013

BOOM | dA Art Center for the Arts | Pomona, CA | 2013

CON:DENSE | Altered Space Gallery | Venice, CA | 2013

META: Self-Referential | Gallery 263 | Cambridge, MA | 2013

Paint Can | Pomona Packing Plant | Pomona, CA | 2013

Indecent PROPosition | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, CA | 2012

While You Were Out | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, CA | 2012

First Annual Show | Frontrunner Gallery | New York, NY | 2012

27+3 | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, California | 2011

July 21 Art Show | The Venice Art Crawl | Venice, CA | 2011

PRESS

“Meet Julie Orr” | ShoutOut LA | 2024

“Meet Julie Orr” | Bold Journey | 2023

A Celebration of 50 Years of Women Artists at Kenyon College | 2019

Symes, Edward | “Julie Orr: Art Socially Sculpted” | Frontrunner Magazine | January 2013

Gibbs, Suzanne | “Installation: Julie Orr Revisited” | Susanne Gibbs Studio | December 2012

Ross, Ellie | “Nude Model’s Rubbish Method to Promote Recycling” | The Sun | October 2012

“Julie Orr Covers Herself in Trash to Flag Up Recycling Issues” | Bacroft Media | 2012

Xiao, Tianyu | “Julie Orr” | HalfArtist | May 2012

Symes, Edward | “Julie Orr: Intangible Navigations” | Frontrunner Magazine | March 2012

“Intangible Navigations” | NY Art Beat | October 2011

Shuck, Emily | “Julie Orr, Student Achievements” | The Pendant | November 2011

PUBLICATIONS

A Celebration of 50 Years of Women Artists at Kenyon College | 2019

Steam Journal | Volume 5, issue 1, 2023

Steam Journal | Volume 2, issue 1, 2015

Steam Journal | Vol. 1, issue 2 , 2014

Studio Visit Magazine | Volume 23, Winter Edition, 2013-2014

MEDIA

Artwork seen on AMC’s television show, Dietland | 2018

AWARDS

Grant Award | Puffin Foundation | Teaneck, New Jersey | 2015

Honorable Mention | 4th Annual Armstrong National 2-D Competition Exhibition | Armstrong Atlantic State University Gallery | Atlanta, Georgia | 2015

Admitted to the Starry Night Exhibition at Miami Basel | 2013