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

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Street Parade
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Ayodele Owolabi
Dr. John
Toné Lowe Painting
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Toné Lowe
When the River Can't Wait to Reach the Ocean
Kat Ryalls Painting
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Kat Ryalls
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Rebecca Birtel Madura Painting
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Rebecca Birtel Madura
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Johnny King Painting
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Johnny King
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Max Bernardi Painting
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Max Bernardi
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Mary Singleton
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Matt Litchliter
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Anne McLeod Painting
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Anne McLeod
Orchestra
Tony Hollums Painting
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Tony Hollums
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Debbie Boyd Painting
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Debbie Boyd
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Nancy Rowe
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Nancy Lassen Painting
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Nancy Lassen
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Anne Blenker Painting
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Anne Blenker
Nightwork
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Spencer Schulz
Transfiguration in Blue
Kate R. Hanrahan Painting
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Kate R. Hanrahan
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Charissa Owens Painting
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Charissa Owens
A Minute To Himself
Emre Karaoglu Painting
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Emre Karaoglu
Blown
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Sean Clark
RedBean the Crawfish for Bring Back Louisiana
Adam Sambola Painting
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Katie Yaquinto
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Katie Kut Painting
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Katie Kut
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Saegan Swanson
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Daryl D. Johnson
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Ron Smith Painting
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Sarah Nelson Sarah Nelson Fine Art
Painting
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Sarah Nelson
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Hayley Roussel Painting
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Maggie Jones Boudreaux Painting
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Magnolia Madame II
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Ceaux .
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Cathie Stuckey Painting
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Cathie Stuckey
Ghost Ship
Charles Hoffacker Painting
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Charles Hoffacker
Edison
Brent Houzenga Painting
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Brent Houzenga
Ritual
Virginia Candler Painting
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Virginia Candler
Song Trails
Nicole Ockmond Painting
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Nicole Ockmond
The Homecoming
Cheryl Anne Grace Painting
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Cheryl Anne Grace
seen
Jessica Strahan JHand Paints
Painting
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Jessica Strahan
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Heather Bird Harris Painting
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Painting
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Margaux Hymel
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Stephanie Reed
You Denied My Existence - James Baldwin
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Jason Van Pelt
"Snake Charmer"
Isabel Perez Gomez Painting
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Isabel Perez Gomez
Land Before Time II
Leroy Miranda Jr. Painting
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Leroy Miranda Jr.
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Emma Fick Painting
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Emma Fick
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BE3K .
A Magical St. Charles Day
Camille Barnes Visionary Design LLC
Painting
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Camille Barnes
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Stephen Rooney
"Louisiana Egrets Face to Face"
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Lee Morais
Meditation #6
Kristen Albrecht Mixed Media / Painting
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Kristen Albrecht
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Catherine Walker Painting
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Catherine Walker
Red Cloud 12.01
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George Dolgy
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Rise Delmar Ochsner Painting
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Rise Delmar Ochsner
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Thomas Deaton
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"Three Visions of a Secret" homage to Jaco and Toots
George McClements Painting
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George McClements
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Cassidy Breaux Painting
Cassidy Breaux
Delight
Natalie Acquistapace Painting
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Saint of Lost Causes
Sean Randall Painting
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Infinite Sadness
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Jeremy Paten
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Painting
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Sadako Lewis Painting
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Morgan Allain Painting
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claire gowdy Painting
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claire gowdy
Ego - Print
Shelby Little Painting
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Shelby Little
Dragonfly Sky
Matty Whitcomb Painting
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Matty Whitcomb
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Painting
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Untitled 002
Gabrielle Tolliver Painting
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Rain
Tony Nozero Painting
BYWATER
Tony Nozero
"Jacob's Ladder (Marie Laveau Visits Her Tomb)"
John Turner Painting
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John Turner
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David Lang Painting
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David Lang
Get the Shot! (Nutria)
Michael Slage Painting
HOUMA
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Place in The Middle
Emily Pullin Painting
RUSTON
Emily Pullin
New Orleans Restaurant's
Connie Kittok Painting
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Connie Kittok
Ceramic Vanity Tray
Emily Lovejoy Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Emily Lovejoy
The Neighborhood
Ella Albrecht Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Ella Albrecht
Emotional Fury #2
Donald Fontenot Painting
MANDEVILLE
Donald Fontenot
Bubbles at Brunch - Fine Art PRINT
Kristy Oustalet Duke Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Kristy Oustalet Duke
Bring Back Louisiana
Leah Morace Painting
ALEXANDRIA
Leah Morace
The Promise
Mary Scinto Painting
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Mary Scinto
Orgullo
MILAGROS Collective Painting
NEW ORLEANS
MILAGROS Collective
persimmons on a blue tile
Jacques Soulas Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jacques Soulas
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