By Nailah Spencer
Photos provided by Juliet Ehrlich and Matt Johnson
Juliet Ehrlich, a Louisville-based artist, exudes a youthful energy that infuses her work with a unique charm. She blends her master painting, sculpting, and pottery skills to breathe life into the antique and contemporary pieces she restores. Her spirit of inquisitiveness about the world and its beauty, coupled with her hunger to create, drives her work.
“As an artist, it’s not only what we create. It’s a way of moving through the world. What you notice, where your eyes fall. So, I am in an ever-present artistic mood, for sure. Which is a romantic mood.” Ehrlich said, poetically.
Juliet Ehrlich’s artistic journey has been a fascinating evolution. In the capacity of Architectural Colorist, Juliet worked on several rooms for Mrs. Paula and Frank Harshaw of Louisville who have raved “When Juliet worked her magic, the artwork was highlighted and the rooms transformed”. Recognized for her prowess as a painter and sculptor, she has now expanded that role to include restoration and conservation. This endeavor signifies her dedication to preserving and repairing antique and contemporary ceramic objects. Art appreciation was a passion ingrained in her since her earliest memories.
“I started, not knowing my capacities as a sculptor and painter would become the underpinnings for restoration and conservation. So it unfolded for me like a little burgeoning flower, really. I did it for myself as a sculptor, whether on pieces that might have had a crack or a chip before or after firing. And then for commissioning clients whose pieces may have emerged out of the kiln with lacuna, which is a hole that may have developed in the kiln or that I didn’t see before on a surface.”
The conservation and restoration process is challenging. It demands research, technical skills, patience, and meticulous attention to detail. It’s a journey to transform something that has broken, been mishandled or aged over time into a piece renewed. According to Juliet Ehrlich, it’s a layered process.
“You do the cleaning, and you put it aside to dry. You wait a few hours because you want that moisture to dissipate. You epoxy it outside. You leave it for a day or two. So it’s all this and more, and I keep detailed notes.” said Juliet Ehrlich.
She uses visual documentation for projects like those she’s doing for Hadley Pottery and the Filson Historical museum. Juliet restored two pieces for Peter Morrin, past Speed Art Museum president, achieving the bar of invisibility. In addition, she is still commissioned for original sculptures.
While some people go to college to hone their artistic skills, Ehrlich developed her craftsmanship through life experience and travel. At just 17, she took a class from Robert Lockhart at the Louisville School of Art, and soon knew she wanted to explore pottery. Although she had been exposed to the power of bringing an idea to fruition with her hands through exploring museums and creating floral designs, this class confirmed her passion for clay. Not long after, she attended an International Ceramics Symposium, and met a potter from New Zealand who would become her mentor a year later. At 18 years old, she traveled to New Zealand and spent a year learning to throw pottery.
“I lived with his young family at first, and ultimately, in a big house with other New Zealanders. Then he arranged a month’s stay in Coromandel with Barry Brickell, a hermit Potter. It certainly added to my foundation,” said Ehrlich.
As an adult, she opened a pottery shop on Lower Brownsboro Road, where she built a kiln. She ran that business for a few years before selling the kiln and continuing her traveling journey.
“I just wanted to see more of the world. I didn’t feel ready to be in one place after having that experience in New Zealand. So I moved with friends to California and lived in San Francisco for a few years.”
From there, she continued her pottery in Maryland, where she discovered her love of studying and creating art inspired by different cultures. Her experiences creating through various art mediums and her much sought restoration and conservation are a testament to her growth and the depth of her artistic exploration. They are brought to fruition when you visit her home. One step inside feels like entering a museum filled with vibrant colors, delicate artwork, and moments immortalized by her keen eye and skilled hands. From detailed drawings to lifelike paintings and a diversity of sculptures, one looks at Juliet Ehrlich’s work, and you can see the inner workings of her creativity.
Ehrlich’s recent return from being the inaugural U.S. sculptor awarded a fully funded, five-week residency on Nantucket is a testament to her talent and dedication. The White House State Department commissioned her to create 17 sculptures for embassies in Singapore and Pua Pua, New Guinea, a feat that her audience can take pride in. For commissions, Juliet Ehrlich can be contacted via phone at 502-936-3599 or through email at juliet.ehrlich@gmail.com. Her portfolio can be viewed at julietehrlich.artspan.com.
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