{"id":36068,"date":"2025-05-10T17:16:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T15:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/?p=36068"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:34:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T10:34:01","slug":"interview-julia-benz-the-wall-mural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/2025\/05\/interview-julia-benz-the-wall-mural\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Julia Benz as part of the Wall+ Mural Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can you briefly describe your project?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My contribution to the WALL+ is a painterly intervention in urban space. I don’t see painting merely as an image, but as a spatial and physical experience. For me, the wall becomes an extension of the canvas \u2013 a surface where color, movement and space condense. What begins in the studio as an intuitive gesture with a brush becomes, in this context, a bodily act \u2013 a choreography scaled to architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conceptually, I often approach the wall through existing canvas works, which I fragment or translate into new settings. I don\u2019t see my work as traditional urban art, but rather as a painterly exploration of space \u2013 beyond scene-specific codes or established visual languages. My aim is to respond to locations with sensitivity, creating visual moments that oscillate between movement, color, and atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Zonenkinder Collective<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Karsten Frehe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Karsten Frehe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Karsten Frehe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

How did you get into art?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I came to art through painting. I studied in a traditional fine art context and have a background in the visual arts. For me, painting has always been a tool to explore perception and to create spaces \u2013 both emotional and physical. I initially studied art and mathematics to become a teacher, but then shifted my focus entirely to fine art, studying painting first in D\u00fcsseldorf and later in Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Zonenkinder Collective<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Zonenkinder Collective<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

How did you get into graffiti\/urban art, and what influences have shaped you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t come from graffiti originally \u2013 my background is in classical painting. When I moved to Berlin, some friends from the urban art scene invited me to join them: \u201cLet\u2019s go paint a wall.\u201d That moment really opened something up for me. I was fascinated by the freedom, the scale, and the immediacy of working outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, I\u2019ve been especially interested in translating painterly approaches from the studio into public space. Today, I find myself in a hybrid space between contemporary painting and urban art. What excites me are the intersections \u2013 between the studio and the street, between exhibition contexts and everyday life. For me, it\u2019s not about adhering to a particular scene, but about opening up spaces, experimenting with formats, and thinking beyond the traditional limits of painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What drew you to the the WALL\u207a project or made you interested in taking part?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What attracted me most to the WALL\u207a project was its openness. It brings together artistic approaches from very different backgrounds \u2013 bold, interdisciplinary, and not curated in the traditional sense, but with space for individual voices.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of course, the location itself: the G\u00e4ngeviertel. For me, it\u2019s more than just a place \u2013 I had the chance to work in a studio there back in 2014. It was a formative experience and has become part of my personal story. So returning now, in this context, felt both meaningful and natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What does \u201cstyle\u201d mean to you, and how would you describe your own style?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Style, for me, is first and foremost an attitude \u2013 a consistent way of thinking, seeing, and working. My style is painterly, layered, and physical. I’m interested in how color can break open or expand space, and how atmospheres emerge through rhythm and layered gestures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each wall is a new counterpart \u2013 a surface with its own history. I try to inscribe my painting into the space in a way that resonates with the location. Not as a mere intervention, but as a dialogue. It should blend in without disappearing \u2013 stand out without overpowering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What or who do you currently feel is missing from the art scene?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I miss seeing more complex biographies \u2014 or rather: I miss the space to allow them to be seen. Many artists today navigate between genres, disciplines, and personal realities, yet the art world still struggles to embrace those in-between spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m interested not just in the work, but in the how of being an artist. I paint \u2014 whether it\u2019s on canvas or on a wall, in a gallery or in the streets. What matters is the color, the emotion, and how it resonates with people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m tired of categories and dogmas. Graffiti is still often dismissed in the art world, while academically trained artists are sometimes seen as outsiders in the urban scene. Why is that? I believe we need more openness, more courage for plurality, and more space for transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The art world, including graffiti and urban art, is still predominantly male. In particular, bridging the gap between being an artist and being a mother seems to be a major challenge. How has this shaped your path so far, and how do you currently deal with it \u2014 also as a role model for other female artists and graffiti\/urban artists?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I want to be a role model, even though I also experience a lot of fear \u2013 but I also have a tremendous amount of courage. It\u2019s important to me to show that being a mother does not mean the end of an artist\u2019s career. During my art studies, I often heard things like \u201cOnce you become a mother, your career is over,\u201d and that has certainly impacted me. Now, as a new mother for three months, I\u2019m proud that I\u2019m already able to work on projects like this and still receive new opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My motto is therefore: \u201cNow more than ever!\u201d \u2013 and this has really given me a boost. It has redefined my priorities, and I work with even more focus now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My career path has shaped me a lot, and I still struggle with being taken seriously. I frequently see projects being given to my male colleagues instead, and I\u2019m still often told, \u201cWe just need one more woman for the project.\u201d I\u2019m working hard to avoid entering projects with preconceptions but rather to embrace the support of my colleagues when it comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What goals or dreams do you have for your future as an artist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an incredible privilege to be able to do what I love. One of my biggest dreams is to one day realize an institutional exhibition \u2013 in a museum or a major art space. I want to create work that has a lasting impact and sparks conversation. I also hope to work internationally, collaborate with other artists, and help strengthen networks \u2013 especially for women in urban art. I dream of using spaces that aren\u2019t traditionally intended for art and reaching people who might not otherwise engage with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What current projects do you have in the pipeline?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I recently completed a large installation project in Berlin and another public art project here in Hamburg. Over the next few months, I\u2019m looking forward to spending more focused time in the studio, developing new works. I\u2019m currently preparing for the Enter Art Fair in Copenhagen.
Alongside my artistic work, I\u2019m also enjoying time with my baby \u2013 balancing both is a challenge, but deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
JULIA BENZ, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 \u00a9Martin P\u00f6tter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

www.juliabenz.de<\/a>
www.instagram.com\/benzpainting<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can you briefly describe your project? My contribution to the WALL+ is a painterly intervention in urban space. I don’t see painting merely as an image, but as a spatial and physical experience. For me, the wall becomes an extension of the canvas \u2013 a surface where color, movement and space condense. What begins in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":36053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1224,1226,1260,3269,4292],"tags":[3376,4219,4293,4295,4296,4220,4294],"class_list":["post-36068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-germany","category-hamburg-en","category-highlights-en","category-interview-en","category-thewall","tag-deutschland-2","tag-gaengeviertel-en","tag-hamburg","tag-julia-benz","tag-mural","tag-the-wall-en","tag-zonenkinder"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36068"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51378,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36068\/revisions\/51378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}