Josie Azuma

Artist + Josie Azuma

I’m a classically trained painter and self-taught abstract artist living in New Orleans, Louisiana. I started painting abstract works in 2019 after it hit me one day—I’ve been painting the wrong things my entire life. I felt confined by the world of realism and frozen; more often than not, unable to finish a piece of art. When I started experimenting with abstraction, my art work came alive; I was able to express myself—my thoughts, ideas, and feelings— in each brush stroke, collage piece, line drawn. I went on a journey to discover my artistic identity through a year plus of experimentation. I came out the other side with a skill set and process that I am proud of. I love working in layers, each layer adding intrigue and meaning that are often subtly hidden in the final piece. I consider myself a mixed media artist, mostly working in acrylics and collage. 

I am inspired by music, the colors and culture of New Orleans, textiles, interiors, and nature. You’ll often find that my titles are either names of songs or lyrics to songs, which help bring my feelings alive while I’m painting. I leave my works open for interpretation; what was once my creation will be acquired and new meaning assigned by its new owner. However, sometimes the titles of my pieces will be little hints into the underlying meaning and mood if you can figure it out.

My journey here has not been straightforward. I've been a creator my whole life, and started out as a painting major at The University of Alabama in 2004. A tedious Chuck Close project scared me into changing my major to Political Science. I loved painting but had no discipline at the time, and hadn’t really found my own style. I graduated with multiple credits in Fine Art and a minor in Art History. In 2008, I moved to New Orleans and attended law school, while painting on the side. I practiced law for over four years before I quit and started a wedding planning and design business, with intentions of building my art career alongside.

In 2016 my husband and I were surprised with twins, and my art career was once again placed on hold, through what turned out to be a very difficult pregnancy and few years thereafter. In 2019, I started painting again consistently and therapeutically, with a mission to figure out what kind of art made me happy and inspired. I had never given up on the idea of being a professional artist, and over time, I came to realize I was putting it off because it was the hardest route to take—figuring out who I was as a painter and putting everything out there is one of the most challenging things I’ve done.

I’m a big believer in art education, studio art classes, and group critiques, and I have continued my art education at The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, with classes in abstract art, color and design, and collage. 

NEW ORLEANS 

Meet the Artists

Local art is the lifeblood of our culture and communities. We source work from hundreds of painters, muralists, sculptors, metal workers, printmakers, illustrators, photographers, and textile artists, every one of whom is part of your local community.

persimmons on a blue tile
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Jacques Soulas
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Cheryl Anne Grace
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Lee Morais
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Matty Whitcomb
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Camille Barnes Visionary Design LLC
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Anne McLeod Painting
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Anne McLeod
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Gabriel Flowers
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Paige DeVries
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Kate R. Hanrahan Painting
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Let’s Have Brunch When This is All Over
Nancy Lassen Painting
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Emre Karaoglu Painting
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Connor McManus
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Emory Nolan
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David Lang
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Ceaux .
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Malak Morgan
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Sean Clark Painting
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Sean Clark
Untitled 002
Gabrielle Tolliver Painting
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Gabrielle Tolliver
Terrance Strikes a Pose on Lafitte Street
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Drew Cooke
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LAFAYETTE
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Ella Albrecht
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Vergie Banks
You Denied My Existence - James Baldwin
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Jason Van Pelt
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Emily Lovejoy Painting
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Emily Lovejoy
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Rayne Bories
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Brett Henderson
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Jessie Chappuis
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Toné Lowe Painting
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Toné Lowe
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Margaux Hymel
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Adam Sambola Painting
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Michael Slage Painting
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BE3K . Painting
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BE3K .
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Morgan Allain Painting
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Nicole Ockmond Painting
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Nicole Ockmond
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Matt Litchliter Mixed Media / Painting
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Matt Litchliter
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Cassidy Breaux Painting
Cassidy Breaux
"Birds of a Feather: Cockatoo"
Stephanie Reed Painting
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Stephanie Reed
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Thomas Deaton Painting
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Thomas Deaton
Bubbles at Brunch - Fine Art PRINT
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Kristy Oustalet Duke
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Rise Delmar Ochsner Painting
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I Wish I Knew
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George McClements
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Lyla Clayre
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Leah Morace
Bring Back Louisiana
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Kat Ryalls Painting
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Kat Ryalls
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Caroline Youngblood Painting
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Ember Soberman
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Mary Singleton
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claire gowdy Painting
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claire gowdy
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Debbie Boyd Painting
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Katie Yaquinto
Soft Serve at the Billy Goat Hole
Saegan Swanson Painting
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Saegan Swanson
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Anne Blenker Painting
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Anne Blenker
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Daryl D. Johnson
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FOLSOM
Natalie Acquistapace
Rain
Tony Nozero Painting
BYWATER
Tony Nozero
La Mer
Charissa Owens Painting
ALEXANDRIA
Charissa Owens
Waiter/Waitress
Alexandra Kilburn Illustration / Painting
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Alexandra Kilburn
Rhapsody 2
Sadako Lewis Painting
DIAMONDHEAD
Sadako Lewis
Saint of Lost Causes
Sean Randall Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Sean Randall
Land Before Time II
Leroy Miranda Jr. Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Leroy Miranda Jr.
"Jacob's Ladder (Marie Laveau Visits Her Tomb)"
John Turner Painting
NEW ORLEANS
John Turner
Edison
Brent Houzenga Painting
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Brent Houzenga
I’ll Have Raspberries, Please.
Cathie Stuckey Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Cathie Stuckey
Indigo 8
Alanna Ali Painting
BATON ROUGE
Alanna Ali
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