3rd Prize Winner, BearWolf Books Emerging Artist Award 2026

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2026

Julia Bartolini

Title:

“Samputa mudra” 

Medium & Dimensions:

 Coloured pencil on 200g white Canson paper, 59.4 x 84.1cm

About the Artist

Julia Bartolini was born in France in 1985 into a family of artists. She followed a school and university career focused on art, punctuated by exhibitions and cultural events within associations and collectives of artists. In addition, she is a special education teacher, two worlds which, although different, complement each other harmoniously. Julia completed her studies and part of her professional career in Bordeaux. For a few years now, she has been living in the Landes region, in the heart of the forest and devoting herself to her artistic practice. She has long created textile sculptures, today focusing more on drawing. She uses coloured pencils, a dry, smooth and pleasant medium to handle, which allows her to create many details. What she appreciates is the freedom that her artistic expression and the fantasy that results from it offer her, allowing Julia to exist fully.

“Samputa mudra”: The gesture formed by the hands represents a mudra (yoga of the hands) called Samputa mudra (the bucket of the little treasure). This mudra symbolizes the spiral of life that sometimes comes to shake us up and requires permanent adaptation. The hands form a small chest to hold a priceless treasure: experiences, knowledge, hope…