Biography
Julie Bégin is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal, Canada, working in fine art photography, conceptual jewellery, and art object design.
Her latest series, “Amazon,” is poised to tour eight European cities from 2024 to 2025 as part of the “Dream and Reality, Jewels” exhibitions. In November 2023, her work was featured in “Still Processing” at Steuben Gallery for SNAG’s 2023 NYCJW exhibition. Over 2023 and 2024, her series “Sweet Vengeance” is showcased in the exhibitions: “On the Move, Jewels” at eight galleries in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In 2022, she participated in “Colour Theory” at Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, Canada, and “On the Move, Jewels” at Galerie Beeld & Aambeeld, Enschede, The Netherlands, introduced by Carin Reinders, director of CODA Apeldoorn. In 2021, Julie took part in “Parle-Moi d’Amour” in Montreal, “Camp” presented at L.A. Pai Art Jewellery Gallery, Ottawa, Canada, and at the Romanian Jewellery Week in Bucharest, as well as “Beauty and Wonder, Jewels” presented at Galería Lalabeyou in Madrid, Galerie Caractère in Neuchâtel, and Galería Context in Barcelona. In 2017, she took part in the exhibition “Masters and Artisan Jewellers From Nanjing to Montreal” at MUMAQ museum in Montreal. Her series “The Uglies” was nominated for The Fine Art Photography Awards in the Fine Art category (2022) and received an Honourable Mention at the Neutral Density Photography Awards in the Conceptual Fine Art category (2021). A self-taught artist, she mastered precious metals work at the École de Joaillerie de Montréal from 2013 to 2016 and through workshops with leading art jewellery figures. Julie has received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Her work is part of private collections worldwide.
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Artist Statement
My creative exploration spans various mediums, with a primary focus on art jewellery and fine art photography. Inspired by the resilient beauty of the natural world, my work centrally revolves around the exploration of interdependence, highlighting the intricate connections between humanity and our environment.
In creating art jewellery, my choice of alternative materials, such as charred reclaimed wood and recycled paper, contributes to the narrative of sustainability and thoughtful repurposing. Through these materials, I aim to prompt reflection on our environmental impact and underscore the ripple effects of our choices.
In my creative journey, research and reflection play a pivotal role in guiding me through an intricate process. With an unwavering commitment to clarity and simplicity of form, I meticulously strip away superfluous details to present an unfiltered representation of the materials.
My method is deeply rooted in a dynamic interplay of systematic exploration and spontaneous trial-and-error. Through this process, I navigate the unexpected, allowing the materials to reveal uncharted visual effects. It’s in the delicate dance of research and experimentation that the true essence of my art emerges, shaped by the constant interplay of intention and the inherent beauty of the unpredictable.
Aligned with conceptual wearable art, my practice transcends the boundaries of conventional jewellery, challenging established norms related to tradition, beauty, and preciousness. Through my art jewellery, which emphasizes creative expression and design above the conventional value of precious materials, I aim to challenge conventions and initiate meaningful discussions about the role of art in contemporary society.
Symbolism is a key element in my work, featuring recurring motifs like black materials representing the natural world altered by human actions, bright silver in contrast, touches of green symbolising nature, blood red embodying life, and blue signifying the essential element of water. Deliberately chosen, these symbols convey layered meanings. Additionally, I use negative space purposefully, emphasising the significance of emptiness as a mode of perception, a deliberate way of looking at experience. It neither adds nor subtracts but serves to distinguish between the way things appear to be and the way they actually are.
Whether worn on the body or displayed, I wish to see my audience engage with my work as expressions of their identity, values, and beliefs. In essence, my artistic journey weaves a narrative of interconnectedness, sustainability, and a conscientious exploration of materials, inviting viewers to reflect on their relationship with the environment and the profound impact of our choices.
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Education
2016 | Basic Jewellery Techniques, École de Joaillerie de Montréal, Canada |
Honours & Awards
2022 | The Fine Art Photography Awards, nominee, Fine Art category for The Uglies series. |
2021 | Neutral Density Photography Awards, honourable mention, Conceptual Fine Art category for The Uglies series. |
2019 | Travel Grant, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. |
2019 | Arts abroad Travel Grant, Canada Council for the Arts. |
2017 | Sodexport Grant, Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles. |
Group Exhibitions
2025 | Dream and reality, jewels April – June 2025, Galleria Carlo Lucidi, Rome, Italy Jan – March 2025, Tincal lab, Porto, Portugal |
2024 | Dream and reality, jewels Date TBC, Galería CONTEXT, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia Sept – Oct 2024, Gallery Universus, Athens, Greece 25 May – 25 June 2024, Galerie Caractère, Neuchatel, Switzerland Feb – March 2024, Galería Lalabeyou, Madrid, Spain |
On the move, jewels 31 May – July 2024, Carlo Lucidi Gallery, Rome, Italy 22 March – 10 May 2024, Context Gallery, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 20 Jan – 10 March 2024, Tincal Lab Gallery, Porto, Portugal |
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2023 | Dream and reality, jewels 19 Nov – 31 Dec 2023, Beeld & Aambeeld Gallery, Enschede, Netherlands |
Still Processing, SNAG’s NYCJW Exhibition 13 Nov – 19 Nov 2023, Steuben Gallery at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA |
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Parle-Moi d’Amour 8 Sept – 20 Sept 2023, Multipurpose hall, Cœur des sciences at UQAM, Montreal, Canada |
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On the move, jewels 14 Sept – 21 Oct 2023, Gallery Universus, Athens, Greece 28 July – 28 Aug 2023, Galería Luis Méndez Artesanos, Salamanca, Spain 6 May – 17 June 2023, Galerie Caractère, Neuchatel, Switzerland 17 Feb – 28 March 2023, Galería Lalabeyou, Madrid, Spain |
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2022 | Colour Theory 8 Sept – 21 Sept 2022, Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, Canada |
On the move, jewels 20 Nov – 31 Dec 2022, Beeld & Aambeeld Gallery, Enschede, Netherlands |
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2021 | Parle-Moi d’Amour 9 Sept – 23 Sept 2021, Agora, Cœur des Sciences at UQAM, Montreal, Canada |
Camp 30 Sept – 3 Oct 2021, Romanian Jewellery Week, Bucharest, Romania 5 June – 25 June 2021, L.A. Pai Gallery, Ottawa, Canada |
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Beauty and Wonder, Jewels 11 Nov – 2 Dec 2021, Galería Lalabeyou, Madrid, Spain 28 Aug – 2 Oct 2021, Galerie Caractère, Neuchâtel, Switzerland 22 May – 3 July 2021, Galería CONTEXT, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Catalunya, Spain |
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2020 | Spent 18 Nov 2020 – 1 Feb 2021, Galerie Lewis, Quebec, Canada |
Autor Art Fair * Cancelled due to COVID-19 9 May – 10 May 2020, Bucarest, Romania |
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Placement 20 Aug – 8 Sept 2020, Visual Space Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 14 May – 20 May 2020, Jewellery Town, Daegu, South Korea * Cancelled due to COVID-19 6 May – 12 May 2020, Gallery Ah Won, Seoul, South Korea * Cancelled due to COVID-19 22 Jan – 8 Mar 2020, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Canada |
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Disrupt 12 March – 23 April 2020, CCBC Gallery, Vancouver, Canada |
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2019 | Year-End Exhibition 19 Dec – 23 Dec 2019, Centre Materia, Quebec, Canada |
Ornement(ation) 14 Dec 2019 – 20 Jan 2020, Galerie Lewis, Quebec, Canada |
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Tincal Lab Challenge 2019 : Jewellery & Anatomy 9 Nov – 31 Dec 2019, Tincal Lab Gallery, Porto, Portugal |
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2017 | Tincal Lab Challenge 2017 : Jewellery & Music 11 Nov – 31 Dec 2017, Tincal Lab Gallery, Porto, Portugal |
Masters and Artisan Jewellers From Nanjing to Montreal 13 July – 27 Aug 2017, Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec, Montreal, Canada |
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One of A Kind Craft Fair 29 March – 2 April 2017, Enercare Centre, Toronto, Canada |
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2016 | Small Formats Exhibition 13 Nov – 21 Dec 2016, Maison Antoine-Lacombe, Saint-Charles-Borromée, Canada |
Publications
2023 | Les Impatients, Parle-Moi d’Amour, exhibition catalogue, p. 12 |
2022 | Co-Adorn Art Jewellery Society, Colour Theory, exhibition catalogue, p. 9 |
2021 | Les Impatients, Parle-Moi d’Amour, exhibition catalogue, p. 18 |
2021 | Co-Adorn Art Jewellery Society, Camp, exhibition catalogue, p. 6 |
2020 | Co-Adorn Art Jewellery Society, Placement, exhibition catalogue, p. 8-9 |
2019 | Ana Pina, Tincal Lab Challenge 2019 Jewelry and Anatomy, exhibition catalogue, p. 28 |
2017 | Maëlle Brogard, Masters and Artisan Jewellers From Nanjing to Montreal, exhibition catalogue, p. 25 |
2017 | Ana Pina, Tincal Lab Challenge 2017 Jewelry and Music, exhibition catalogue, p. 22 |
2017 | Gabrielle Lisa Collard, “Julie Bégin: alchimiste d’anti-fast fashion“, Centre Phi blog |
2016 | Elsa Vecchi, “Styles de soirée: le lancement de la collection de bijoux de Julie Bégin”, Huffington Post QC |
Workshops & Professional Development
2023 | Electroforming in jewelry, with Ambroise Degenève, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2022 | Pin mechanisms and brooch back design, with Daniela Malev, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2019 | Cartography, building an image of the world, with Ramon Puig Cuyàs, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2018 | Cold connexion, mixed-media & patinas, with Judy McCaig, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2017 | The hidden side of the brooch, with Aurélie Guillaume, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2016 | Made-to-measure leather casings, with Trinidad Contreras, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain |
2015 | Porcelain applied to art jewellery, with Trinidad Contreras, DTerra Gallery, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain |
2015 | Gold application, with Charles Lewton-Brain, École de Joaillerie de Montréal, Canada |
2015 | Thinking jewellery from a personal point of view, with Katja Prins, École de Joaillerie de Montréal, Canada |
2014 | Colours and pigments on metal: New avenues, with Gabrielle Desmarais, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
2014 | Contemporary ceramic jewellery, with Shu Lin Wu & Peter Hoogeboom, École de Joaillerie de Montréal |
Related Professional Experience
2018 | Teacher’s Assistant, Jewellery, The Visual Arts Centre, Montreal, Canada |
Since 2016 | Jewellery designer & maker, Joules fine Jewellery, Montreal, Canada |
Professional Affiliations
2020 | Klimt02 |
2019 | Craft Council of British Columbia |
2019 | Materia |
2019 | Precious Collective |
2018 | Art jewelry Forum |
2017 | Society of North American Goldsmiths |