Julia CSekö
Brazilian /American Visual Artist
Csekö’s work gravitates around conversations and eXxperiments grounded on a paradigm shift from competitive to collaborative practices in social actions and interactions.
Keynote Speaker at the GDIP 2023 International Art and Design Forum in Guangzhou, China.
BIO
Born in Colorado to Brazilian parents on self-exile during the Brazilian military dictatorship, Csekö grew up in Rio. Csekö has received the ALAANA Creative County Grant, the SMFA Travelling Fellowship, the Collective Futures Grant, a Be The Change Award, local cultural council grants from the towns of Somerville, Randolph, and Newton, a Sculpture Space Residency, the Create the Vote MassCreative Fellowship, and is a current Artist-in-Residence at the Boston Center for the Arts and the City of Salem Public Artist in Residence. As well as public commissions, her work is held in collections such as Tufts Permanent Collection, Emerson College, MAM Rio, Morris and Belkin Gallery, CC São Paulo, and private collections. In 2025 Csekö is invited to return to MassMoCA as an A4A Alumni AiR. She received an MFA from the SMFA at Tufts in 2013.
Her passion for organizing dates back to her BFA at the Federal University of Rio UFRJ, when Csekö participated in successful negotiations demanding an increase from 0.3 to 1% of Brazilian national funds be allocated to arts and culture. She was also a committee member in conversation with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture. She continues to be a Cultural Sector Arts Advocate within her communities in North America.
EXxhibitions and announcements
November 2024
Julia Csekö, I am partnering with local creatives, and human rights activists to create performances for the camera in sites of personal, cultural, and historical relevance to my multidisciplinary practice. These include the Federal University of Rio and the infamous DOPS building (Department of Political and Social Order). This police station was a feared destination during the Brazilian Military Dictatorship, where political prisoners were incarcerated, tortured and many times never seen again after their arrest.
I will be living and working in Rio between early November and mid-December thanks to the generous support of the SMFA Travelling Fellow Grant.
vanitas
Julia Csekö & John Aaron Bouque
On view until November 9th
Tuesday to Saturday 11-5 PM
FPAC Art Space
70 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA 02210
This two-person show will transform the FPAC Art Space into an immersive video installation. Using a modern critique of the classical Vanitas still life motif the video and installation Pauca Paucis, features twenty performers sharing a meal with collective utensils.
Influenced by Luis Buñuel's extravagant and unsettling "The Exterminating Angel" and Brazilian Cinema Novo, the video is a social experiment that addresses overabundance. Bourque adds to the conversation by referencing still-life paintings of flowers. The piece "Dead Flowers", a looped timelapse of wilting flowers, reflects on time and entropy, depicting the struggle between decay and beauty.
Straight from the Heart - the Rant series
Julia Csekö
Made possible by Behind VA Shadows
September 14th to October 27th
Storefront at the corner of Mass Ave and Linden
2 Linden St, 02138, Harvard Sq in Cambridge
The exhibition site is in a storefront window at the corner of Mass Ave and 2 Linden St, 02138, Harvard Sq in Cambridge.
These paintings were created when I worked as a Visitor Assistant at the ICA Boston. During the hours spent in the galleries, in the company of great art, an internal monologue started brewing. This series of paintings is a snapshot of the thoughts racing through my mind. These range from deep frustration at the hardships of being an artist to a deep enjoyment and appreciation of the art-making process.
Denholm Building Window Display
October 2024 to October 2025
Worcester, MA
Join the Public Artist in Residence on Artists’ Row (PAiR) for the 2024 season. Julia Csekö will present the participatory public art installation Transcending Borders - Immigrant Experiences and Dreams between June and September. She will also hold regular open studio hours from May to December. The Artist Row studio will be a community gathering point for sharing and celebrating immigration stories. Additionally, Csekö will curate storytelling events and family-friendly workshops throughout the year.
The residency will culminate with an exhibition at Salem Old Town Hall in January 2025.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency and the ALAANA grant from the Creative County Initiative of the Essex County Community Foundation.
May to December 2024
24 New Derby St, Salem MA, 01970
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday or by appointment
Welcome dresses worn by dancers Abriana McCollim, Sarah Marie and Keira Leigh Zagaeski
Welcome Dresses worn by Jacqui Valtka, Jen Lajoie and Beki Ferrari
Welcome Dresses worn by Beki Ferrari and Jacqui Valatka
Welcome Dress worn by Jen Lajoie
Hannah arendt Limited Edition Print
I am honored to announce that Bard College Hannah Arendt Center has commissioned a Speaking Truth to Power limited edition print featuring words by Hannah Arendt from the Origins of Totalitarianism.
15x15 in Limited Edition Print
Paulo freire LIMITED EDITION print
15x22.5 in Limited Edition Print
From the Speaking Truth to Power series featuring words by Brazilian educator and thinker Paulo Freire.
Each purchase made helps support my practice!
Original drawings compose this unique limited edition collection of print-to-order products. Each drawing is fun, with a dark sense of humor, savoring Love in all its manifestations, good and bad, the absolute delights, the perfect traps, and the catastrophic mistakes.
I've carefully tested these products, and I am delighted to say I am completely satisfied with the print and manufacturing quality.
