Sorrento, Italy.
Washington, USA
Milan & Sorrento, Italy
This internship was completed as part of the Bellevue College × Sant’Anna Institute International Internship Program in Italy.
About JK Studio
JK Studio is a contemporary art studio based between Milan and Sorrento, led by German artist Julia Krahn. The studio is where ideas slowly turn into artworks through research, conversation, trial and error, and a lot of emotional honesty.
Julia’s work focuses on memory, identity, emotions, and the human body. She often uses photography, sculpture, video, and installation to explore very personal stories and transform them into physical spaces that people can walk through, feel, and reflect on. Her artworks are not loud or overwhelming they are quiet, gentle, and deeply emotional, inviting viewers to pause and connect with their own inner experiences.
At JK Studio, creation doesn’t follow a fixed formula. Each project usually begins with an idea that grows and changes over time. Concepts are tested, questioned, sometimes rejected, and rebuilt again. This process of constant rethinking is an important part of Julia’s practice. The studio becomes both a workspace and a space for emotional research, where vulnerability, patience, and openness guide the creative direction.
My Role in the Studio
1/ Studio Assistance
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Assisted Julia in her daily creative process
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Photographed and documented studio activities
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Helped organize, classify, and prepare artworks and materials
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2/Digital Work
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Digitally reconstructed and separated children’s drawings using Illustrator
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Organized colors, layers, and visual data for exhibition use
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Prepared visual materials and small drafts to support ongoing projects
3/ Artistic Collaboration
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Participated in clay sculpture work, including hands and masks for exhibitions
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Observed Julia’s creative methods and contributed to artistic discussions
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Engaged in conversations about concepts, emotions, and artistic decision-making
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Sat in on Julia’s classes to learn her critique methods and teaching approach
Projects I Worked On
1/ Ischia Exhibition (July 2026)
For Julia Krahn’s upcoming exhibition in Ischia, we spent most of the semester developing a body of work that combines clay sculptures with a parachute-based installation. This project became the core of my internship and allowed me to work closely with Julia in both conceptual and hands-on processes.
My Contributions:
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Sculpting clay hands, body parts, and animals
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Exploring human expression through observation and form
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Assisting in selecting and purchasing parachutes for the installation
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Testing materials, weight, and possible hanging methods
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Documenting the entire process through photos and notes
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Participating in discussions about themes such as origin, descent, touch, and memory
Working on this project taught me patience, deep observation, and how emotion can be translated into material. It was the most immersive part of my internship and shaped the way I understand the relationship between the body and art.
2/ Easter Exhibition in Milan (2026)
For Julia Krahn’s upcoming Easter exhibition in Milan, we developed a series of works inspired by a historical painting depicting the Crucifixion of Christ. The exhibition will take place in a small chapel, using this painting as its central reference point. Julia focused on the gestures and emotional tension between Jesus and Mary—the position of their hands, the posture of their bodies, and the profound expression of a mother losing her child.
My Contributions:
• Sculpting clay hands and faces to study expression and emotion
• Observing and analyzing the differences between male and female facial structures
• Exploring hand positions and body direction to reflect themes of grief and sacrifice
• Assisting in developing the visual language for the chapel installation
• Experimenting with photography to capture gestures, angles, and emotional tone
• Participating in discussions about themes such as motherhood, loss, devotion, and sacred imagery
Working on this project allowed me to deepen my understanding of the human face and the emotional symbolism behind physical gestures. Unlike previous clay projects, this work required more sensitivity and attention to the subtle ways suffering and devotion can be shown through the body. It strengthened my observation skills and helped me see how art can hold both pain and spirituality at the same time.
3/ Milan Performance (December 2025)
Julia Krahn was invited to present a five-minute performance in a theater in Milan, alongside several other artists. Throughout the development process, we explored different ideas, including an early concept centered around a table. Eventually, Julia returned to one of her most defining artistic themes: the unbearable grief and despair of a mother losing her child.
My Contributions:
• Photographing rehearsals and capturing different emotional moments
• Assisting with sound playback and timing during practice sessions
• Observing the evolution of the performance from the first idea to the final form
• Participating in discussions about movement, facial expression, and emotional tone
• Supporting early research on potential collaborators for the performance
• Learning from the process of evaluating and eventually deciding against collaboration when the fit was not right
Watching Julia develop this performance taught me a great deal. Her facial expressions—raw, honest, and deeply emotional—always moved me. As a close observer, I witnessed how she builds a performance from nothing: how she tries, adjusts, removes, and reshapes ideas until they align with her truth.
This project helped me understand the openness and vulnerability required in performance art, and how emotional honesty becomes its strongest foundation. Even though my role was small, the learning I received by watching her create was invaluable.
