Artists statement

As both an artist and an architect, I am continually inspired by light, color, rhythm, and texture. Working primarily from observation, I embrace the spontaneity of the process, allowing brushstrokes to shape atmosphere and emotion.

I especially find joy in plein air painting, where constantly shifting light presents both challenge and opportunity, and the camaraderie of fellow artists fuels creativity. The urgency to capture a scene before it disappears brings vitality, freshness, and immediacy to my work.

That fleeting moment, that sudden mood, that magical light - once captured in a painting, it stays with us forever.
 
Bio

Juliya Ivanilova’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows at venues including Strathmore Mansion (Bethesda), Glenview Mansion (Rockville), BlackRock Center for the Arts (Germantown), Kentlands Arts Barn (Gaithersburg), Yellow Barn Studio (Glen Echo) and other locations. Her work is represented in private collections throughout the United States and Europe.

Juliya’s paintings have received numerous awards and recognitions, including 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 are featured in those volumes.

Juliya is a Signature Member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society, an Active Member of Potomac Valley Watercolorists, and a member of the Montgomery Art Association.

      Select Exhibitions and Awards

  • 2026 Juried "Whispers of Winter" MAA Art Show at Windridge Vineyards, MD; Curator vineyard owners
  • 2025/2026 Juried Women Artists of the DMV Exhibition, Artspiration, Frederick, MD; Curator Lenny Campello, Artist
  • 2025 Solo Art Show, Art at Penn Place, Garrett Park, MD 
  • 2025 “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • 2025 Third Place Award, Friends of Yellow Barn pant out, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD; Judge Dipali Rabadiya, Artist
  • 2025 Paint Great Falls plein air and art exhibition, Arts of Great Falls, Great Falls, VA
  • 2025 Second Place Award, Potomac Valley Watercolorists Online Exhibition; Judge Walt Bartman, Artist
  • 2025 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
  • 2024 Solo Art Show, Artist’s Studio, Bethesda, MD 
  • 2024 “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • 2024 Baltimore Watercolor Society’s Signature Member Exhibit, Friendship Heights Community Center Gallery, Chevy Chase, MD
  • 2023 Juried Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion, Gaithersburg, MD; Juror - Alexis Lavine, NWS, WHS, Artist
  • 2023 “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • 2023 Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD
  • 2022 Duo 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
  • 2018 Annapolis Night Plein Air, Annapolis, MD
  • 2018 Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD 
  • 2017 “Quick Draw” Plein Air, Solomons Island, MD 
  • 2017 Solo Art Show, Artist’s Studio, Bethesda, MD 
  • 2016 Juried Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, Black Rock, Germantown, MD; Juror - Joyce Hicks, AWS, Artist
  • 2016 Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Juror - Michael Shibley, Artist
  • 2016 “Art in Motion” Juried Show, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Jurors - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators
  • 2016 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
  • 2015 First Place Award, MAA* “Paint the Town” Plein Air, Kensington, MD; Judge – Abigail McBride, Artist
  • 2015 “Quick Draw“, Plein Air Easton, Easton, MD
  • 2015 Honorable Mention Award, “Quick Draw“, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD; Judge – Larry Moore, Artist
  • 2015 Solo Exhibition, Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, MD
  • 2015 “What’s On Your Mind?” Juried Exhibition, 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
  • 2014 Honorable Mention Award, MAA* “Paint the Town” Art Show, Kensington, MD; Judge – Glen Kessler, Artist
  • 2014 “Dueling Brushes” Plein Air Annapolis, Annapolis, MD
  • 2014 “Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD 
  • 2014 Third Place Award, Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Judge – Debra Halprin, Artist
  • 2014 “New” Juried Exhibition, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Juror - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators
  • 2014 “Creative Connections” MFA** Juried Exhibition, Gallery B, Bethesda, MD; Juror - Catriona Fraser, Director of the Fraser Gallery
  • 2014 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
  • 2013 “Strokes of Genius” National Juried Exhibition, MFA** Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD; Juror - Stephen Doherty, editor-in-chief of Plein Air Magazine
  • 2013 “Star Spangled Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Solomons Island, MD 
  • 2013 Third Place Award, MAA* “Paint the Town” Plein Air, Kensington, MD; Judge - Susan Herron, Artist
  • 2013 “Dueling Brushes” Plein Air, Annapolis, MD
  • 2013 “Quick Draw“ Plein Air, Easels in Frederick, Frederick, MD 
  • 2013 Juried Invitational Show, Penn Place Gallery, Garrett Park, Kensington, MD; Juror - Nicole Reindorf, Artist
  • 2013 Duo Exhibition “Beautiful moments”, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
  • 2013 “Point of View” Juried Exhibition, Strathmore Mansion, N. Bethesda, MD; Jurors - Harriet Lesser and Adah Rose Bitterbaum, Curators
  • 2012 Juried Members Show, Yellow Barn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD; Juror - Catriona Fraser, Curator, Artist
  • 2012 “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