
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.
Let me introduce myself a bit more.
I’m a content-focused marketing professional and multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and visual culture. I have hands-on experience supporting social media, visual branding, and digital marketing initiatives across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Substack. My work often involves designing platform-ready visuals, writing captions and short-form scripts, assisting with content scheduling, and tracking performance using tools like TikTok Analytics and Meta Business Suite. With a background in graphic design, I’m able to quickly create clean, on-brand assets that support engagement, clarity, and campaign goals.
Alongside my professional experience, I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication Management at USC, where I’m strengthening my skills in strategic communication, research, and organizational messaging. This academic work complements my hands-on marketing practice and helps me approach content not just as output, but as part of a larger system—one shaped by audience, culture, and context.
I’m seeking an entry-level marketing or content-focused role where I can contribute immediately, continue learning, and grow within a collaborative team.
Outside of marketing, my creative practice explores the space between memory, culture, and personal experience. Much of my work begins with questions—about where I come from, what I carry, and how stories are passed down. Through illustration, animation, and mixed media, I explore identity as something fluid and in-between, especially for people who exist between worlds. My process is intuitive and layered, often combining hand-drawn elements with digital tools. I’m drawn to tactile, imperfect methods that leave room for slowness and reflection. Currently, I’m working on a series rooted in themes of land, language, and belonging—less about finding answers, and more about reconnecting, processing, and imagining something more honest and whole.

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.
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.
San Jose, CA, USA
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