Walking into the Norbertine Abbey in Albuquerque’s South Valley for an art exhibit a few years back, I was smitten by a small icon. There on the wall was Mary and Jesus, surrounded by gold: Virgin of the Sweet Kiss. I had an immediate connection. I looked at the artist's name, Julia Lambright. Unknown to me at the time, I knew I had to learn more about her.
Fast forward several years. My knowledge of Lambright and her work has grown. As a Russian emigree, Lambright graduated from the University of New Mexico with an MFA, exhibiting throughout the region. Using iconographic painting techniques in her art, Lambright’s work is a delicate balance between contemporary and classic forms. As stated in her artist bio, she “document[s] the silent and persistent dialogue between past and present … a voice to address memory, vision, and childhood experiences.”
I caught up with Lambright to ask some questions.
Did artistic pursuits bring you to the U.S.?
I came to New Mexico to start my new family, and it turned my life into a beautiful journey. Honestly, I had no expectations arriving in the US. In Russia, my life had a challenging start, but through my art I’ve been able to reflect on the entirety of my life.
At what point did you realize you wanted to dedicate your life to art?
Moving to the U.S. turned my destiny around. I took my first drawing class at the local community college to communicate and to fulfill my childhood dream to become an artist. It was then I felt that I was capable to express anything, and quickly realized that art was my true calling. With my family’s support and great professors at UNM who had a profound effect on my creative vision, I’ve had the chance to express and share my story via art that I was unable to express in any other way.
You mention “childhood experiences” in your bio. Were you an artistic child, and how do these experiences translate into your work?
Childhood is a special world, with its own logic and enchantment. As a small child I loved to draw, often copying images around me. I had an unusual, difficult past. I grew up in an orphanage the first ten years of my life and I saw the world differently, not relying on the generally accepted norms and conventions. It might be a teacher’s whisper to her colleague that I heard one day, but I always believed that my father was an artist.
Since then, my art has served as a mirror, reflecting the condition of humankind and the world in which we live. As I mature and evolve as an artist, I understand the impact of my past influencing my present. Telling a story visually is an essential part of my art. Through artistic-storytelling I can find commonalities with other people and their stories. And not only do stories inspire, but they also make me happy, satisfied, curious, and bring healing.
Lambright’s work can be seen at Hozho Gallery in the Sawmill District in Albuquerque, 2000 Bellamah Ave NW, 87114.
Julia Lambright painting. Photo: Ryan Montano 
Ask Alice. Photo: Julia Lambright
Brian C. Nixon, Ph.D., is Chief Academic Officer and professor at Veritas International University in Albuquerque. As a writer, musician, and artist, his interests surround the philosophical transcendentals: truth, beauty, and goodness. You can contact Brian via his Bandcamp email address: https://briancharlesnixon.bandcamp.com
