Traditional and contemporary elements have been influential to Bay Area artist Julia Albo, with her goal being to blend the past and the present with her techniques. Subjects on her canvases range from heavily patterned still lifes to portraits and statues. 
Oranges, oil on panel, 24 x 24"
“I have a series of paintings inspired by my time visiting the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy,” she says. “Both the frescos from Pompeii as well as Roman sculptures had a strong impact on me. I use molding paste to make the surface of the painting look like a crumbling fresco in an effort to blend the past with the present.” One such work is Anxiety I, which shows one of the famous statues from the area.
Mirror, oil on panel, 36 x 24"
Her other series of paintings, including the works Oranges and Mirrors, has a strong use of patterns to create complex and rich imagery. Wanting to create a sense of balance in her work, Albo often will use a square canvas—such as in Oranges—because she believes the shape helps “achieve that sense of equilibrium.” 
Anxiety I, oil on panel, 24 x 24"
These pieces were inspired by the Dutch still life paintings of the early 1600s, “but instead of acquiring objects of great value that were once meant to show status [they are] things that were mostly bought from chain department stores,” Albo explains. Many of these items are readily found around the house; she then takes photos of them and edits the images to find the ideal compositions. —
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