Urgent Museum Notice

Julie Chen: True to Life

An open artist’s book resembling two open books connected end to end. The four inner cover panels feature small sculpted brown shapes, small indented shapes, and a rocky-looking panel. The two groups of pages feature different patterns that resemble rock climbing walls.
Oct 12, 2020 to Feb 12, 2021

The internationally recognized artist and teacher Julie Chen creates elaborate books that call for readers to do more than simply turn pages to uncover her poetic reflections. Readers may be called upon to peer through a tunnel created by accordioned pages or flip the slats of a Venetian blind-like structure in order to read the text. Julie Chen: True to Life will exhibit more than a dozen captivating works from throughout the Californian’s 33-year career. Chen creates small sculptures of handmade papers and other materials, marrying text and complex structures to convey her contemplations on the passage of time, forms of grief, the human quest for discovery, and other deeply personal concerns.  

This exhibition will be open by appointment only.

Please purchase your timed tickets then email lrc@nmwa.org to schedule an appointment to see this exhibition

An open artist’s book that is diamond shaped with open carousel-style pages covered in lines of text radiating out from the core. The book is perched in a half-moon holder on a stand, like a globe.

Julie Chen, World Without End, 1999; 4 ¼ in x 10 in; Courtesy of Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University; © Julie Chen

An open artist’s book that is teardrop-shaped with two open flaps that resemble wings. The interior is an earthy red color with veiny brown lines. Inside the open teardrop shape is a tiny circular book with navy half-moon shaped pages.
Julie Chen, Chrysalis, 2014; Courtesy of the artist; © Julie Chen
An open artist’s book resembling two open books connected end to end. The four inner cover panels feature small sculpted brown shapes, small indented shapes, and a rocky-looking panel. The two groups of pages feature different patterns that resemble rock climbing walls.
Julie Chen, Wayfinding, 2019; Courtesy of the artist; © Julie Chen
An open artist’s book that is diamond shaped with open carousel-style pages covered in lines of text radiating out from the core. The book is perched in a half-moon holder on a stand, like a globe.
Julie Chen, World Without End, 1999; 4 ¼ in x 10 in; Courtesy of Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University; © Julie Chen

The Artist,

Julie Chen

Book artist and instructor Julie Chen is known for her work's innovative use of non-traditional structures and high level of craftsmanship.
A light-medium-skinned adult woman with medium-length black hair wears a blue floral blouse and glasses. She is in an art studio, behind a green cutting mat, looking down and holding open a flag-style book. Equipment is on the counter behind her.