About

I, Julia Arriola, am a native Tucsonan of Mescalero/Mayo descent. I am an artist and retired curator from the Arizona Historical Society. I received my BFA, MFA in Sculpture and Metals, as well as a Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona. In addition to my passion for art, other areas of specialization include 1800s Tucson, costume, multiculturalism, and historic landscapes.

A little about me … Julia Arriola

I guess I can describe myself as an artist with eclectic ideas, who draws on history for conceptual renderings that address past, present and future with an indigenous flair. Trained as a sculptor, I like to look at all sides of an image whether 2d or 3d. Currently, my works are drawings using colored pencils and ink on ledger paper that dates from 1859.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, as the daughter of a career master sergeant, I have lived in other states but always returned to my beloved city. One of my favorite subjects in early schooling was art period and history in high school. My mother says, “As a child she was always drawing and trying to make things”. During my teenage and early adult years the thoughts of art went away and did not fully return until the early 80s. After jobs in factories, a three year tour in the Navy, and more factory jobs, I decided to go back to school, making me a ‘late comer’ into the world of higher education and art. After graduating with a Masters in Fine Art, the race was on to ‘make it’ in the art world, or at least try to make a living creating the things I love. Easier said than done, and definitely not the 9- to-5 job that the factories offered, I was recommended for a curatorial position at the Arizona Historical Society, a museum where I had been hired as a work study student during undergrad and graduate school.

I am always grateful to the Arizona Historical Society, for not only the position, but throughout my career where there were many creative outlets provided for me to bring art into the interpretation of history exhibits. After my recent retirement, I am now able to spend 6 to 7 hours a day in the studio, once again becoming a full time artist.

Although art came back at a later time in life, I would not change a thing, as all experiences led me through a rich life with amazing outcomes that now are manifested through ledger drawings and sculpture.

The ledger drawings began a little over a year ago starting with my love for Steampunk. I really love the design, fashion, and technology that came from that great but horrible time period, especially for NA, the 19th century. These drawings suggest how objects/concepts from the 19th century were not only forced on Native Americans, but were also embraced. Different tribes, traditions, and ceremonies are included because all were impacted by the overwhelming force of Manifest Destiny. Steampunk fashion is a subgenre of the steampunk movement in science fiction. It is a mixture of the Victorian era’s romantic view of science in literature and elements from the Industrial Revolution in Europe during the 1800s.