Finding Art and Hope 

My name is Julissa, also known as Pax Paints and I'm an acrylic painter based in the Twin Cities, MN. My journey with painting began as a way of survival. After a traumatic brain injury (TBI) damaged my vision - I began experiencing visual distortions, pain, fatigue, memory problems, and nausea that reoriented my entire world. I could no longer do simple tasks on my own like reading, driving, and taking care of myself. 

Needing a new way to express myself led me to teaching myself to paint slowly during intensive vision therapy. Painting quickly became my way through daily difficulties and an empowering way to tell my story. It gave me a language when words weren't enough. Art-making also helped me rebuild my visual-spatial skills and helped me establish meaning, hope, identity, and community again. What started as a personal healing journey quickly became a greater calling: to show the world we truly can make beauty of our most difficult moments. 

Art is medicine

There's something about putting a brush on canvas that generates an expansive, exciting feeling. For me, expressive work isn't just an aesthetic choice. It is a reflection of learning to see again more vibrantly and complexly. My pieces carry that unique human experience: vivid, magical, complex, beautiful, melancholic yet hopeful. I utilize hyper-saturated neon colors and dots to show you my new visual experience post-injury. It can be overwhelming and dizzying but still contains magic, wonder, and hope. 

Every single print, sticker, necklace, and painting I create is rooted in the idea that we can alchemize beauty from the hardest challenges we face in life. I aim to share that in multiple ways: Through my painting work itself, but also through teaching art and advocacy work. 

I have taught painting for about 3 years now- at local small businesses and partnering with Northern Hennepin Community College.  When I guide others in their own painting practice, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Since I started art-making later in life, my self-taught perspective encourages students to jump in with me. 

Minnesota as Inspiration 

The landscapes in Minnesota are woven into everything I make. I am a tremendously passionate advocate for protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most beautiful wilderness areas left in the country. My connection to land, water, and wilderness as a healing mechanism shows up in my work in many ways. This passion intersects with my advocacy for community - all of us live on this land together. I see it all as interconnected and important. 

Work with me

I am based in the Twin Cities and open to partnerships, teaching opportunities, commission work, speaking engagements and other collaborations. Reach me at paxpaints@gmail.com.