“The ocean and the stars were eternal, things whose power and mystery were greater than the powers of men.” - Larry McMurtry

Julia Bell Ambrose is a surreal figurative expressionist based in Austin, Texas, creating works that explore the inner emotional landscapes of human experience. As a mother of four, her life is rooted in cycles of care, chaos, intimacy, and resilience. These elements naturally surface in her imagery. Figures in her work often exist in altered or dreamlike spaces, reflecting the tension between vulnerability and strength, individuality and responsibility, reality and imagination.

Julia earned her BFA in Studio Art from The University of Texas at Austin and later completed a Master’s degree in Art Education from The University of Maryland. Her background as an educator informs her practice with a strong belief in art as a tool for connection, reflection, and transformation. Living and working in Austin, a city shaped by creativity, contradiction, and growth, continues to influence her visual language and sense of community.

Through her work, Julia aims to create spaces where viewers can recognize fragments of their own emotional lives, inviting empathy, introspection, and dialogue.

Julia currently has a studio at Art Hub in South Austin.