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Juliya Ivanilova is a Russian-born American watercolor artist with a background in architecture. Her early training established a strong foundation in drawing, sketching, and composition, and continues to influence her attention to structure, light, and spatial relationships in her artworks, as they become increasingly intuitive and expressive.

Juliya works both in the studio and outdoors, with a strong preference for plein air painting. Working on location allows her to respond directly to changing light and atmosphere, encouraging clarity, speed, and decisive mark-making. Over time, Juliya explored a range of subjects and media. In recent years, watercolor has become her primary medium for its transparency, flexibility, and immediacy, as well as its capacity for both precision and spontaneity. Whether painting urban environments, architectural spaces, or quiet everyday scenes, Juliya aims to convey a sense of place rather than a literal description, leaving room for interpretation and emotional resonance. She often paints directly with watercolor without creating a pencil drawing first. This allows for a more impressionistic free-flowing process, which she prefers for en plein air painting.

An active member of the Mid-Atlantic area art community, Juliya is a Signature Member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society, a member of Potomac Valley Watercolorists, Maryland Federation of Art and the Montgomery Art Association. 

Juliya regularly participates in art shows, plein air events and competitions. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at multiple Mid-Atlantic venues including Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda, BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Kentlands Arts Barn Gallery in Gaithersburg, and Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo. Her paintings are held in private collections throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Juliya's work has received numerous awards and honors, including selection for publication in Splash 18: The Best of Watercolor and Strokes of Genius 6: The Best of Drawing. Her watercolor K-Town Bikes and pen-and-ink drawing Tallinn were featured in these juried volumes, reflecting her ability to work confidently across media.
Education 
  • M.A. in Architecture, Moscow Architectural University, Moscow, Russia
  • Krasnopresnensky School of Art, Moscow, Russia

Select Advanced Training 
  • Joseph Zbukvic watercolor workshop, Principal Gallery, Charleston, NC
  • Gary Tucker “Advancing with Watercolor” on-line courses and in-person workshop, Oxford, MD
  • Carolyn Anderson oil portrait workshop, Easton, MD
  • Tim Bell oil plein air workshop, St. Michaels, MD

Select Exhibitions, Events and Awards  

2026
  • Paint Annapolis Juried Artist, Circle Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland (May 31- June 20th)
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society’s Member Exhibit, The Meeting House Gallery, Columbia, Maryland (May 16th - July 25th)
  • Honorable Mention Award, Potomac Valley Watercolorists Online Exhibition; Judge, Ted Reed, Artist 
  • "Where The Light Falls" MAA Art Exhibit, Goldman Art Gallery, Bender JCC, Rockville, MD
  • Juried "Whispers of Winter" MAA Art Show at Windridge Vineyards, MD; Curator vineyard owners 

2025
  • Juried Women Artists of the DMV Exhibition, Artspiration, Frederick, MD; Curator Lenny Campello, Artist
  • Solo Art Show, Art at Penn Place, Garrett Park, MD 
  • “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • Third Place Award, Friends of Yellow Barn pant out, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD; Judge Dipali Rabadiya, Artist
  • Paint Great Falls plein air and art exhibition, Arts of Great Falls, Great Falls, VA
  • Second Place Award, Potomac Valley Watercolorists Online Exhibition; Judge Walt Bartman, Artist
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society’s Signature Member Exhibit, Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, Columbia, Maryland

2024
  • Juried 91st MPSGS Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, Strathmore Mansion Gallery, North Bethesda, MD
  • Solo Art Show, Artist’s Studio, Bethesda, MD 
  • “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society’s Signature Member Exhibit, Friendship Heights Community Center Gallery, Chevy Chase, MD

2023
  • Juried Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, Arts Barn Gallery and Kentlands Mansion, Gaithersburg, MD; Juror - Alexis Lavine, NWS, WHS, Artist
  • “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD

2022
  • Two-artists Exhibition “Oils and Watercolors” Baker Gallery, Woodberry Forest School, VA

2021
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society Signature Member Exhibit, Strathmore Mansion Gallery, North Bethesda, MD

2018
  • “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • Annapolis Night Plein Air Public Artist, Annapolis, MD
  • "Mixed Media and More!" Group Art Exhibition, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
  • Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD 

2017
  • “Quick Draw” Plein Air, Solomons Island, MD 
  • Solo Art Show, Artist’s Studio, Bethesda, MD 

2016
  • Juried Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, Black Rock, Germantown, MD; Juror - Joyce Hicks, AWS, Artist
  • Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Juror - Michael Shibley, Artist
  • Juried “Art in Motion” Show, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Jurors - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society Signature Member Exhibit, Glenview Mansion Gallery, Rockville, MD

2015
  • Generous Spirit award, “Paint the Town for a Cause” Plein Air, Solomons Island, MD; Judge – Carolyn Egeli, Artist
  • First Place Award, MAA “Paint the Town” Plein Air, Kensington, MD; Judge – Abigail McBride, Artist
  • “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • Honorable Mention Award, “Quick Draw“, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD; Judge – Larry Moore, Artist
  • Solo Exhibition, Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, MD
  • Juried Exhibition “What’s On Your Mind?”, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Jurors - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators

2014
  • Pâté Painters Exhibition, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
  • Honorable Mention Award, MAA “Paint the Town” Art Show, Kensington, MD; Judge – Glen Kessler, Artist
  • “Dueling Brushes” Plein Air Annapolis, Annapolis, MD
  • “Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD 
  • Third Place Award, Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Judge – Debra Halprin, Artist
  • Four-artists Exhibition, Arts Barn Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD
  • Juried Exhibition “New”, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Juror - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators
  • MFA Juried Exhibition “Creative Connections”, Gallery B, Bethesda, MD; Juror - Catriona Fraser, Director of the Fraser Gallery
  • Pâté Painters Group Exhibition, Glenview Mansion Gallery, Rockville, MD

2013
  • Juried Members Show, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD; Juror - Erwin Timmers, Artist
  • Pâté Painters Exhibition, Brookside Gardens Gallery, Silver Spring, MD
  • MFA National Juried Exhibition “Strokes of Genius”,  Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD; Juror - Stephen Doherty, editor-in-chief of Plein Air Magazine
  • “Star Spangled Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Solomons Island, MD 
  • Third Place Award, MAA “Paint the Town” Plein Air, Kensington, MD; Judge - Susan Herron, Artist
  • “Dueling Brushes” Plein Air, Annapolis, MD
  • “Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD 
  • Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Juror - Nicole Reindorf, Artist
  • Two-artists Exhibition “Beautiful moments”, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
  • Juried Exhibition “Point of View”, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Jurors - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators

2012
  • Pâté Painters Group Exhibition, Gallery B, Bethesda, MD
  • Juried Members Show, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD; Juror - Catriona Fraser, Curator, Artist
  • “Paint-it!” Plein Air public artist, Ellicott City, MD 
 
Publications
Memberships
  • BWS - Baltimore Watercolor Society Signature Artist
  • PVW - Potomac Valley Watercolorists
  • MAA - Montgomery Art Association
  • MFA - Maryland Federation of Art