Julia Speaks - Artist Biography

Julia Speaks

photo by David Joyce

Where I live, the land is dramatic, massive force visible in every wrinkle. Within ninety minutes I can be by the sea or in the high desert sagebrush, or deep in ancient forest. I need the land, so that I can know who I am.

The song of the land is in my bones and in my heart. It gets into everything. There is magic, gentle and wild. What do I miss, when my attention falters? How many hawks can I count on the fence posts between the cities? Do I remember the colors of moonlight?

It is the job of the artist to make the unseen visible. The landscape within me is continually shaped and fed by my experiences and perceptions. It is my hope that through sharing these paintings, you too may find yourself changed.

Thanks for stopping by.

A migrant from the Midwest to Oregon, O’Reilly works in her studio in Eugene, Oregon. She studied art and dance at Southwest Missouri State University for her Bachelor of Fine Arts, and holds a Master of Fine Arts from University of Oregon. Since 1982, she has exhibited in the U.S., China and Argentina. O’Reilly has been commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival, the Oregon Arts Commission and the Portland Metropolitan Arts Commission. She is represented in many public, private and corporate collections.