Poetry in Resin: Interview with Artist Julia Gentile
February 28, 2025
Julia Alejandra Gentile was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and now resides with her family in Miami. She creates gravity-defying sculptures in resins, lucites, and polymers – mediums that are volatile and difficult to master. The resulting artworks are mysterious, dreamy, light and flowing – in other words – simply poetic.
LA: What should be the mission of the artist? What is your mission?
JG: I believe that art has many functions. In my works, its main purpose is to provoke and generate an aesthetic experience. Art is a language, and like any language, its main objective is to communicate. What I communicate is related to my own story, my connection with nature, and my personal experiences. What viewers see is not always the same, and that’s the point: to generate questions and narratives that lead to personal reflection, to stir emotions connected to each person’s personal history, beyond the meaning it has for me.
LA: Are artists important in modern society? What do they contribute?
I believe that art is essential as a vehicle of expression, both for the artist personally and for the community to which they belong. While my art expresses my uniqueness, it is through this individuality—alongside that of other contemporary artists—that we lay the foundation for the culture we live in. Art, in this case visual art, is a language that shakes the viewer and stirs their emotions.
LA: If you were not an artist, what would you do?
JG: I am 67 years old, and for many years, my profession was different. I was an aerobics instructor, a career that brought me much satisfaction.
However, I was always connected to the world of art and creativity, constantly exploring different forms of expression. I began with painting and gradually ventured into the world of resin—a medium full of possibilities, where experimentation is constant, and the potential is endless. Through this, I discovered tracing paper and recycled paper as the best carriers for my organic forms. It was a long process of trial and error, resulting in diverse outcomes.
Initially, I used resin as a finishing medium to give a “neat” touch, but I later realized that resin is a medium in itself. It can faithfully replicate the forms of leaves. Tree branches, combined with acrylic strips, started as experiments.
This led me to discover various materials and possibilities—from watercolors to alcohol inks, always with acrylic. Acrylic bases became a personal hallmark in my work. Through this back-and-forth of experiences, my style emerged—a style that now represents and accompanies me in every creative process.
Gentile’s sculptures are located at East West Fine Art in Mercato. 9118 Strada Place, #8130. Naples, Florida 34108. www.eastwestfineart.com – info@eastwestfineart.com
