Captivating Artistry Rooted in Indigenous Narratives

Exploring Identity Through Art

Julie Acosta is a multidisciplinary artist based in California whose work explores identity, memory, and cultural storytelling. Working primarily in animation, mixed media, and illustration, her practice weaves together personal narratives and collective histories, often drawing from Indigenous perspectives and lived experience. Julie holds a B.A. in Art from UC Santa Cruz, where she deepened her interest in visual storytelling and cultural representation.

Her work is inspired by community, family, and the land—blending traditional techniques with playful experimentation. From frame-by-frame animation to hand-drawn illustration, Julie’s creative process is rooted in curiosity and care. She is also the author of Xiutla, a cultural fiction novel that reflects her passion for storytelling across mediums.

Through her art, Julie creates space for connection, reflection, and reimagining. Her practice continues to evolve as she explores themes of belonging, voice, and visibility.

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Artist Statement

I make work that explores the space between memory, culture, and personal experience. A lot of my pieces begin with a question—about where I come from, what I carry, and how stories get passed down. I'm interested in the ways identity can shift and stretch, especially for people who exist between worlds. Through illustration, animation, and mixed media, I try to give shape to those in-between places.

My process is intuitive and layered. I often combine hand-drawn elements with digital tools, letting textures, color, and movement guide the way. I gravitate toward methods that feel tactile and imperfect—things that hold the mark of the hand. There’s something important to me about the slowness of certain techniques, especially in a world that moves fast and asks us to keep up. Animation, in particular, gives me space to slow down and reflect.

Right now, I’m working on a series that’s rooted in themes of land, language, and belonging. It’s informed by my own relationship to heritage and disconnection, and the desire to rebuild something more whole. I’m not always looking for answers—sometimes the act of making is enough. It becomes a way to reconnect, to process, and to imagine something more honest and true.

Indigenous Narratives

I recently launched the Indigenous Narratives TikTok and YouTube channel — a digital storytelling space that explores Native identity, culture, and representation in contemporary media. Through short-form videos, I share insights on Indigenous history, storytelling, and community voices, while connecting traditional knowledge with modern conversations. The channel aims to create authentic representation, spark dialogue, and highlight stories that often go untold.

Spotify

XIUTLA - By Julie D Acosta

Set in 16th-century Mexico and Spain, Xiutla tells the story of Ysabel Xuihtlamiyaual, a young Nahua woman from the lush, vibrant valley of Xiutla, and her journey to preserve her people's heritage amid the Spanish conquest. Ysabel, the daughter of a chieftain, finds herself a bridge between her indigenous roots and the Spanish world, balancing love, resilience, and duty as she enters an arranged marriage with a Spanish nobleman. Through generations, her legacy endures, carried forward by her grandson Tlamatini, who seeks to reclaim his heritage and connect with the land and spirit of his ancestors. Xiutla is a powerful narrative of cultural pride, transformation, and the quest to keep one’s identity alive across time and adversity.

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Captivating Artistry Rooted in Indigenous Narratives

Captivating Artistry Rooted in Indigenous Narratives