Julia Aguila’s work is strongly influenced by her native Philippines. From the stories that her family has passed down to her, to the nation’s rural and urban landscapes, Julia’s paintings and block printings seek to transform and immortalize the memories that she and her family have from where they came from. In this spirit that Julia’s thesis show, ‘Love is Stronger than Memory,’ came about. “It’s a project that I have been meticulously perfecting and I have dedicated to my grandparents in the Philippines,” Julia says.

While her interest in art began as far back as she can remember, it was Julia’s experiences as a high school student with the CalArts’ Community Arts Partnership (CAP) and the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) that first connected her to CalArts. These programs, which aim to provide young people with arts education opportunities, helped Jula decide that the Institute was where she wanted to continue to pursue her art practice as a college student.

During her time at CalArts, where she is entering her final year in the BFA Art program, Julia has served as a curatorial intern for programming at REDCAT, as well as a studio for Sharon Lockhart. “Both of these positions have given me insight into the fast-paced environment of creative spaces,” she said. “And they have provided me with amazing mentors as well.”

The opportunity that Julia has had to pursue these career-building experiences while still a student have, in part, been due to the financial freedom that she has been afforded through her scholarship support. Julia is the recipient of the Michael Eisner Scholarship for former CAP participants as well as the Betty and Morris Boltuch Memorial Scholarship, among others.

“My scholarships have greatly eased the financial load of finishing my education,” Julia says. “Thanks to my scholarships, I have had ample time to explore internships, work in my studio, and engage in my art practice.”

With a desire to become a curator or director of programming, in addition to a working artist, Julia has spent as much time as possible building skills that will help her achieve this goal. “I’ve had to overcome my fear about my future career path and financial uncertainty after graduation,” she says.

To do this, Julia has dedicated time to learning the practical aspects of a creative career. “I took professional development classes from the Graphic Design department, I had meetings with professors about their career journeys, I applied for internships and positions even if I felt that I was underqualified, and I had frequent meetings with the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work,” she says.

As she finishes her final year at the Institute, Julia knows that these experiences have given her the confidence that she needs to forge ahead. “I feel much more confident in my career path now,” she says. “And I am confident that I can be successful in the creative field.”
Julia’s experience as a student at CalArts has been extraordinary, and she’s now looking forward to her career, and where it might take her after she leaves the Institute. “My four years at CalArts have been nothing but fruitful and exciting,” she says. “Now I’m looking forward to continuing my career journey after I graduate.”