Júlia Godoy | Fine Art Painting and Natural Foraged Pigments

Julia Godoy is a Brazilian born visual artist and painter currently based in Los Angeles, California. Her artistic practice is uniquely defined by her commitment to materiality and the natural world, specifically through the creation and use of foraged pigments. After receiving formal training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, Godoy transitioned from traditional commercial materials to a process heavy exploration of the earth’s own palette. She frequently hikes through the mountains, coastal cliffs, and trails of the Los Angeles area to collect stones, minerals, plants, and other organic matter. Using a mortar and pestle, she grinds these found materials by hand into artist quality pigments, a technique that connects her work intimately to the specific geography of her surroundings. At Julia Godoy Studio, her paintings serve as atmospheric meditations on time, transformation, and memory. The subtle shifts in color and texture found in her work are the direct result of the unpredictable nature of handmade pigments, which change based on season and location. Beyond her large scale paintings, Godoy has expanded her studio to include workshops, retreats, and intimate experiences where she teaches the art of paint making. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as those at Fig & Oak and LA Design Week, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary fine art that emphasizes sustainability and a primal connection to the land.