PITTSFIELD, MASS.- Berkshire Museum displays "The Animal Art of Julie Bell" an extraordinary exhibition showcasing the captivating works of one of today's most acclaimed fantasy artists. On view to the public June 1 through September 29.
Fantasy Artist Julie Bell has received several awards for her work, including nine awards at the 2014 Art Renewal Center’s International Salon, where she won first and third place in the Animal Category and first place in the Imaginative Realism Category. “When I’m painting animals with all their beauty and wild nature, I experience the kind of at-one-with-the-universe feeling described by people who meditate. It’s both soothing and exciting, the way nature itself is. I know without a doubt that this is what I was meant to do” Bell noted.
Jesse Kowalski, Berkshire Museum’s Chief Curator said of the exhibition, “The Berkshire Museum is thrilled to host the first exhibition of Julie Bell’s animal art. An award-winning fantasy and science fiction artist, Bell has created exquisite, lush portraits of animals in the wild in a style all her own.”
In 1989, Bell, a nationally ranked bodybuilder, began modeling for popular fantasy artist Boris Vallejo, with whom she soon fell in love and married. She was inspired to return to art, and in January 1992 her work appeared on the cover of Heavy Metal magazine. Since then, she has created advertisements for numerous companies, designed video game packaging art, and found work in the comic book industry, where she became the first woman to illustrate Conan the Barbarian for Marvel Comics. A field she worked in before becoming a fulltime mother to two successful artists – Anthony and David Palumbo.
The Berkshire Museum’s annual gala will celebrate the work of Bell and host her as an honored guest on the evening of Saturday, June 15. Titled “Behind the Veil” (after one of Bell’s works displayed in the accompanying exhibition), all funds raised will support educational programming at the Museum.
“The 2024 Berkshire Museum Gala Behind the Veil will be a truly unique event, as it will take place during a special exhibition highlighting the fantasy art of Julie Bell. Attendees will be able to enjoy the exhibition, a fabulous dinner by Chef Peter Platt, and celebrate the museum and the important role it plays as part of our community.
Our annual major fundraising events each year supports the museum’s educational programs, which is a cornerstone of our mission ”, said Kimberley Bush Tomio, Executive Director.
