Blog
004 - Interview with Julia Benz as part of the Wall+ Mural Project
10 May 2025 , by Zonenkinder Collective
Fuente: https://www.urbanpresents.net/en/2025/05/interview-julia-benz-the-wall-mural/
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 – 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 – a choreography scaled to architecture.
Conceptually, I often approach the wall through existing canvas works, which I fragment or translate into new settings. I don’t see my work as traditional urban art, but rather as a painterly exploration of space – 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.
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Zonenkinder CollectiveJulia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Karsten Frehe
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Karsten Frehe
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Karsten Frehe
How did you get into art?
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 – 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 Düsseldorf and later in Berlin.
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Zonenkinder Collective
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Zonenkinder Collective
How did you get into graffiti/urban art, and what influences have shaped you?
I didn’t come from graffiti originally – my background is in classical painting. When I moved to Berlin, some friends from the urban art scene invited me to join them: “Let’s go paint a wall.” That moment really opened something up for me. I was fascinated by the freedom, the scale, and the immediacy of working outdoors.
Since then, I’ve 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 – between the studio and the street, between exhibition contexts and everyday life. For me, it’s not about adhering to a particular scene, but about opening up spaces, experimenting with formats, and thinking beyond the traditional limits of painting.
What drew you to the the WALL⁺ project or made you interested in taking part?
What attracted me most to the WALL⁺ project was its openness. It brings together artistic approaches from very different backgrounds – bold, interdisciplinary, and not curated in the traditional sense, but with space for individual voices.
And of course, the location itself: the Gängeviertel. For me, it’s more than just a place – 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.
What does “style” mean to you, and how would you describe your own style?
Style, for me, is first and foremost an attitude – 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.
Each wall is a new counterpart – 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 – stand out without overpowering.
What or who do you currently feel is missing from the art scene?
I miss seeing more complex biographies — 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.
I’m interested not just in the work, but in the how of being an artist. I paint — whether it’s 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.
I’m 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.
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 — also as a role model for other female artists and graffiti/urban artists?
I want to be a role model, even though I also experience a lot of fear – but I also have a tremendous amount of courage. It’s important to me to show that being a mother does not mean the end of an artist’s career. During my art studies, I often heard things like “Once you become a mother, your career is over,” and that has certainly impacted me. Now, as a new mother for three months, I’m proud that I’m already able to work on projects like this and still receive new opportunities.
My motto is therefore: “Now more than ever!” – and this has really given me a boost. It has redefined my priorities, and I work with even more focus now.
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’m still often told, “We just need one more woman for the project.” I’m working hard to avoid entering projects with preconceptions but rather to embrace the support of my colleagues when it comes.
What goals or dreams do you have for your future as an artist?
It’s an incredible privilege to be able to do what I love. One of my biggest dreams is to one day realize an institutional exhibition – 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 – especially for women in urban art. I dream of using spaces that aren’t traditionally intended for art and reaching people who might not otherwise engage with it.
What current projects do you have in the pipeline?
I recently completed a large installation project in Berlin and another public art project here in Hamburg. Over the next few months, I’m looking forward to spending more focused time in the studio, developing new works. I’m currently preparing for the Enter Art Fair in Copenhagen.
Alongside my artistic work, I’m also enjoying time with my baby – balancing both is a challenge, but deeply rewarding.
Julia Benz, the WALL+, Hamburg, May 2025 ©Karsten Frehe
www.juliabenz.de
www.instagram.com/benzpainting
