Julia Purdy

Have you had a chance to visit the yet? Today and tomorrow are the last days to visit.

Public Sale Hours:
Saturday, December 6, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, December 7, 10 am - 5 pm

Celebrating its 47th year, the SMFA Art Sale has been the leading contemporary art sale in New England since its creation in 1978, raising critical funds to support the financial aid needs of current students.

I am grateful to be among so many incredible artists in this show. I hope you have a chance to visit.

It means so much to me that one of my paintings has found a new home. If you’d like to explore the rest of my work in the show, the link is in my bio.

smfaartsale

I have five paintings in this year’s SMFA Art Sale! 50% of the sale of these paintings will support financial aid at SMFA. Your purchases make it possible for SMFA at Tufts to truly support arts education for the next generation of artists and creative leaders.

You can also shop online if you’re unable to make it in person. Link in bio.

Public Sale Days
Friday, December 5, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I’m so happy to share that my painting Wishes has recently found its way to the home of a wonderful collector and his wife. Thank you, Bob, for visiting my studio and for bringing this painting to your home.

I titled this work Wishes because, while creating it, I was thinking of some of the intentions I want to send out into the world - wishes for love, peace, healing where it’s needed most, and for more light in our world.

Wishes was juried into the the Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s exhibition “Outside In, Upside Down,” where it was memorably displayed hanging from the ceiling! I’ll never forget the moment and I looked up to see it suspended above us! It was so magical.

I’m so happy Wishes has found a new home. Bob, thank you for supporting my work and I hope it brings you and your family joy for many years to come.

Tonight is the night! It’s Art Wellesley’s Small Art, Big Party!
I’ve donated two original paintings for this event. One of them carries a very special energy… I painted it for someone who will be there tonight — though I don’t know who they are.
I saw the image in my mind, and heard a clue about the title. As I was painting it, I heard Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” in my mind, and I thought of the Caribbean.
That’s all I can share for now — the artworks remain anonymous until they find their new homes. But if you’re attending tonight… maybe you’ll know the connection when you see it.

The last four pieces in this series sold out. (I wasn’t sure if I would ever make more.) But I had a wave of inspiration and made a few more with a slightly different style and I’m excited to share them with you!

Both of these just found homes via my email newsletter collector circle (thank you!). There are two more, and they’ll be exclusively available at my studio this Friday during First Friday Open Studios. Hope to see you!

I’m excited to let you know that I’ve been accepted as a juried, signature member of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA)— the oldest women’s fine art organization in the country. Past members of NAWA include trailblazers like Faith Ringgold, Louise Nevelson, and Alice Neel. I am so inspired to be connected to such an incredible community of women creating and exhibiting across the country.

I’m also excited to join the Massachusetts Chapter of NAWA and look forward to being an active member of this vibrant local community of artists.



I am filled with gratitude when I hear from someone how my art has positively affected them. That they are still thinking about it, even after they’ve left my studio.

It is the connections I’ve made with others through my art that have been so incredibly rewarding and meaningful. Thank you Christine, for finding my studio, and for your kind words.

Thank you, for choosing my painting “4” during South End Open Studios. It is so meaningful when one of my paintings leaves the studio — especially when it’s selected by another artist.

I’ve been spending most of my time in the studio lately, working on new paintings, so while this note of thanks is a bit overdue, I am excited to show you what I’ve been working on, so stay tuned...

🎨 Open Studios This Weekend 🖼️
I’m opening my studio doors this weekend — come say hi and see where and how my art is made.
Explore recent works, meet me in person, and hear the stories behind my work. This is an opportunity to experience the textures, and layers, and hear how and when the images for the work came to me.

🗓️ Saturday + Sunday, 11–6PM
Hope to see you!💫

A huge thank you to new collector, Lori for visiting me last night and for selecting my painting, The Formula, for your home. (Also, thanks for sharing the second photo!)

Our conversation about looking at art and artist intention versus viewer interpretation was so meaningful. It was so nice to relate and connect with you over my favorite subject 🖼️🎨.

We've had the pleasure of showing off these two colorful and abstract pieces on our #GBHMural this week 🖼 "Exuberance" by @juliapurdyart captures the view of the Boston skyline from I-93 North. The piece "describes the feeling in my heart as it fills with excitement and joy when returning to Boston, my home,” Purdy says. Purdy's work has been featured in the @smfaattufts, and she is an alum of @bostonu. Meanwhile, "Jar of Beau" by @beau_mccall is an Afrofuturist image featuring McCall, who wears an elaborate button headdress and glasses. The jar of buttons references how he began his creative practice with this humble item that is found in many households and serves as keepsakes, family heirlooms, and sources of inspiration. McCall's work is currently featured in the @museumofcraftanddesign. These pieces are displayed as part of "Community Canvas," an initiative presented by @gbhnews' @thecultureshowgbh to display artwork by community members on our digital mural. #LocalArtist #BostonArt #BostonArtist #MassachusettsArtist #MuralArt #CollageArt #RecycledArt #Painting #AbstractPainting

Thank you to everyone that visited yesterday — your kind words, curiosity, and genuine connection to the art filled my studio with such beautiful energy.

A heartfelt thank you to the new collector who brought Improvisation 3 (the last one in the series!) into your home.
Sometimes, a piece of art stays with you—on your walls and in your thoughts. That lingering feeling is often a sign that it truly belongs. Knowing this work will continue to inspire in its new home fills me with such gratitude and joy.