𝒃𝒊𝒐 ⋆ ★

I'm aware the aesthetic screams tween girl, but you should know I'm a 33-year-old tween girl living in suburbia with my parents. I worked and lived in Toronto for over a decade and it was rough/fun, but 2 years ago I crossed Steeles Ave, and am a happy resident of Thornhill.

My background is in art history and arts administration (University of Toronto; Humber College), and professionally I have mostly worked in client/guest services and admin roles for plucky, successful Toronto businesses (Fran's; Rodney's Oyster House; Honeybea; Around the Block Consignment). 

 

I've been making art since around 2012, after studying incredible (albeit mainly western) artworks and artists at U of T. I knew I wanted to paint not too long into my degree. 

Before school and work was ma famiglia, and I'm very lucky to have a supportive, art-loving family, that tolerates glitter everywhere. Thanks to my parents, there was a lot of music and art around my sister and me, with thrifting/art hunting a favourite pastime that remains today. My dad is now winding down a successful art & objects dealing business, something that's probably been subconsciously priming me for Jewelygoods.

 

 

I entered the secondary market in 2021, working for Around the Block consignment store in North York. It was a small team with lots of heart, and some amazing vintage art and items. I learned a ton about inventory management, value, and pricing in the secondary market (and worked my employee discount to the bone). 

Before Around the Block was Rodney's, where I had too much fun hosting, followed by assisting with operations wherever I could. If you've been, you know it's a special place. I was also a fabric cutter at the Honeybea shop, a copywriter, and I taught art to kids in camps and after school programs (likely contributing to my glitter affliction). 

 

 

After over a decade of making my own weird art, I find my work often presents kitschy things (hearts, pink, flowers, glitter) while drawing from elements of abstract expressionism, minimalism, and post-painterly abstraction. Experimentation drives most of what I make, and I can’t shake my love for embellishment and material opulence (I blame sailor moon and ’90s stickers). For me, adornment can offer real visual and sensory joy, and it’s not at odds with elegance or so-called “fine” aesthetics.

I’m also interested in what happens when utility enters the mix; how definitions begin to shift and dissolve, revealing shaky foundations of traditional art hierarchies. Whether it’s materials or motifs labeled “decorative,” or embroidery work classified under “decorative arts,” one thing that becomes clear is the connection to feminized labor and the historical sidelining of work made by women.

 

 

That's definitely enough about me for now. Thank you for reading through. I'm not sure how this shop will evolve, but I'm grateful for your time, and I genuinely hope that through Jewelygoods, you find affordable art that feels pleasing–hopefully in both expected and unexpected ways!

xo Giulia