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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Past Life
Jessie Chappuis Painting
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Jessie Chappuis
persimmons on a blue tile
Jacques Soulas Painting
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Jacques Soulas
Reflections 3
Antonio Ferachi Painting
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Matty Whitcomb Painting
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Jeremy Paten Mixed Media / Painting
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David Lang Painting
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Hayley Roussel Painting
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Cierra English Painting
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Lee Morais Painting
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Spencer Schulz Painting
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Painting
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Painting
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Saegan Swanson Painting
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Vergie Banks Painting
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Tony Hollums Painting
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Katie Kut Painting
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Cassidy Breaux Painting
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Anne McLeod Painting
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Isabel Perez Gomez Painting
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Isabel Perez Gomez
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Virginia Candler Painting
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Virginia Candler
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Ben Hamburger Painting
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Anne Blenker Painting
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Paige DeVries Painting
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Caroline Youngblood Painting
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Emily Lovejoy Painting
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Painting
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Untitled 002
Gabrielle Tolliver Painting
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Rise Delmar Ochsner
You Denied My Existence - James Baldwin
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Charles Hoffacker Painting
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When the River Can't Wait to Reach the Ocean
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Kat Ryalls
seen
Jessica Strahan JHand Paints
Painting
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"Birds of a Feather: Cockatoo"
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La Mer
Charissa Owens Painting
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Toné Lowe Painting
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BE3K . Painting
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Emily Pullin Painting
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MILAGROS Collective Painting
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MILAGROS Collective
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Emre Karaoglu
"Jacob's Ladder (Marie Laveau Visits Her Tomb)"
John Turner Painting
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John Turner
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claire gowdy Painting
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claire gowdy
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Painting
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Painting
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Tony Nozero Painting
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Tony Nozero
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Nancy Rowe Painting
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Brett Henderson Painting
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Daryl D. Johnson Painting
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Donald Fontenot Painting
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Ella Albrecht Painting
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Ella Albrecht
Magnolia Madame II
Rayne Bories Painting
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Rayne Bories
Louis Michot & Corey Ledet Throw Down
Max Bernardi Painting
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Max Bernardi
Song Trails
Nicole Ockmond Painting
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Nicole Ockmond
Red Cloud 12.01
George Dolgy Painting
NEW ORLEANS
George Dolgy
The Homecoming
Cheryl Anne Grace Painting
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Cheryl Anne Grace
I Wish I Knew
Catherine Walker Painting
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Catherine Walker
Land Before Time II
Leroy Miranda Jr. Painting
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Leroy Miranda Jr.
"Three Visions of a Secret" homage to Jaco and Toots
George McClements Painting
NEW ORLEANS
George McClements
Transfiguration in Blue
Kate R. Hanrahan Painting
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Kate R. Hanrahan
Portals to Anywhere
Katie Yaquinto Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Katie Yaquinto
Indigo 9
Alanna Ali Painting
BATON ROUGE
Alanna Ali
RedBean the Crawfish for Bring Back Louisiana
Adam Sambola Painting
SLIDELL
Adam Sambola
A New Idea
Carolyn Busenlener Painting
PEARLINGTON
Carolyn Busenlener
French Quarter Stroll
Lyla Clayre Illustration / Painting
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Lyla Clayre
Inner Landscape
Francis Wong Good Time Francis Art
Painting
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Francis Wong
Bring Back Louisiana
Leah Morace Painting
ALEXANDRIA
Leah Morace
Saint of Lost Causes
Sean Randall Painting
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Sean Randall
ADORNED III
Lori Sperier Mixed Media / Painting
COVINGTON
Lori Sperier
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