ARTIST STATEMENT
It’s hard to paint about anything else after you learn your studio used to be part of a prison that once held Suffragists. These women refused to put fork to mouth and engaged in hunger strikes that swayed the opinion of a nation and won them—won me—the right to vote.
I quickly discovered that the general public knew nothing of these stories of bravery and passion. So I began a series of paintings honoring the suffragists. As I worked, I saw that the story didn’t end in 1920, so I painted contemporary women who advanced the fight.
I began my painting, “Celebrating Roe v Wade,” in June 2022- the day the current Supreme Court decided women did not have the right to abortion.
In 1973, women marched and used their political power to create change and to advance women’s rights. This painting celebrates those activists and seeks to give us hope that we can change the world again.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Julia Dzikiewicz was born with a paintbrush in her hand and has been painting ever since. After finishing a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Virginia, she continued her studies at the Corcoran School of Art and R&F Paints.
Inspired by a mother who ran political campaigns and worked for social justice, Ms. Dzikiewicz uses her talents to paint art about Suffrage and Women’s Rights. Her collage-type paintings include electrical circuits, lights, wax, and crystals.
Dzikiewicz is a member of the board of the Lucy Burns Museum at the Workhouse Arts Center in Virginia.
Dzikiewicz also works as a production designer, prop maker, camera operator and more for films produced by Crimes of the Arts Films (https://crimesoftheart.com/). She and her work were featured in an award-winning documentary titled “Encaustic: It’s all the Buzz.” Choice Prize.
© Julia Dzikiewicz