Juliana Naufel Artist Biography

Juliana Naufel (b. 1996 - she/they) is a Brazilian artist and art therapist who uses affection as their primary subject. Their artworks and art therapy practice are strongly influenced by the healing aspect of creativity as a way of making amends with the past and to co-create a brighter future. Naufel’s artworks are in a number of prestigious collections around the world, including The Wonders of Women Museum, USA; The Kanyer Art Collection, USA; Taube Museum of Art, USA & Museu das Bandeiras, Brazil. Naufel has held four national solo exhibitions, most notably at Espaço Ira Rebella (2026) and at The Museum of Image and Sound of Santos, Brazil (2022). Recognized for her talent, Naufel was a longlisted artist of Women United Art Prize 2025 & 2021 and clinched 3rd Place at the SeeingWomen 2020 Awards, by Photos de Femmes (France).

Naufel’s artistic journey includes numerous residencies across Brazil and participation in over 50 group exhibitions spanning eleven countries, and dozens of art publications including Create! Magazine, ArtPremium, CandyFloss Magazine, and more. In 2024, Juliana’s work graced Times Square in New York City, paying homage to their grandmother. Naufel holds a MA Degree in Art Therapy from NAPE-São Paulo, and a BA in Visual Arts from São Paulo’s State University. They are also a certified Reiki Practitioner Level III, Chromotherapist  and EFT Facilitator and Co-Founder of Photo Trouvée Magazine.

Statement

“Home Is Where The Heart Is” is a reflection on belonging, finding your place and understanding that home isn't just tied to a geographic location, but to the relationships we carry with ourselves, our loved ones and our surroundings.  I began working on this series as a way to elaborate the challenges and the changes that are taking place in my life as I've been living in between countries for the past 4 years while navigating a long immigration process - now paused indefinitely. It's easy to feel like I don’t fully belong anywhere anymore. At the same time, I'm also getting a chance to learn that home comes from my relationship with myself and my body, and from the supportive relationships and bonds that make me feel loved and appreciated wherever I am.

These artworks are inspired by found vintage photographs that stood still in time. Even though those moments were captured long before I was born, they still felt familiar and showed me memories of others that in my eyes truly embodied belonging and the feeling of home. I start by setting an intention of uplifting and honoring the people portrayed in what I'm about to create. I'm led by intuition when picking the colors to paint the characters, almost as I am capturing their auras with the choices I make. I then paint with acrylic inks a soft-pink sparkling wallpaper from my first solo show that took place in my hometown to honor where I came from. Last, but not least, I crochet the painting as a way to honor my lineage and my community. I also see crocheting the piece as an offering of care, warmth, protection and safety - aspects that are interconnected with what home means to me.