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Sparks: Julia, thank you for joining us. Can you start by telling us about the work you’re presenting at Sparks Gallery?

Julia San Roman: Thank you! The two series I’m showcasing are titled Remnants and Glimmer. These two series focus on hope. My present hope is for the light of reason to prevail—specifically, the philosophical system of thought from the Enlightenment, with its values of reason, progress, and optimism.

Sparks: That’s a profound inspiration. Could you share how this idea is reflected in the Glimmer series?

Julia San Roman: Of course. Glimmer evolved from a previous series I worked on, called Dissociation. In Dissociation, I was reflecting on a personal loss that deeply affected me. I created realistic depictions of light passing through clouds as a metaphor for grief and transition. When I moved beyond that, I wanted to focus more directly on light as a source of hope.

This journey brought me to the Southern California Light and Space Movement. I connected profoundly with the purity and simplicity of their minimalist works. It was a kind of epiphany for me—this mystical connection between their formal aesthetics and my own romantic nature.

Sparks: How did you incorporate these influences into Glimmer?

Julia San Roman: The paintings in Glimmer are often divided into two sections. One part uses a realistic style to depict light coming through clouds, which have been a recurring motif in my work. They’re ethereal and ever-changing, and they resonate with my Mediterranean background.

The second part of the composition is geometric abstraction, inspired by the chromatic stripes of the Light and Space Movement. These represent my life here in Southern California. The interplay of these two elements—the old world of my Mediterranean roots and the new world of California—is central to the work.

I try to unify both sections by extending the chromatic stripes into the clouds. They become softer and subtler there, evoking a sense of longing and creating a poetic atmosphere. It’s a way of balancing my two cultures while expressing hope.

Sparks: That balance sounds beautiful. What about the transition to the Remnants series?

Julia San Roman: Remnants was inspired by another personal experience. While I was vacationing in Spain, my home was threatened by wildfires that devastated half the peninsula. It was terrifying, and it reminded me of the fires we’ve faced here in Southern California.

This series reflects my concern for the environment and the need for reason and action to protect it. I incorporated acrylic flowers—something I had been using in a separate series—as part of the mixed media approach. The flowers are plastic, which underscores the concept of remnants—what we might be left with if we fail to care for our planet.

Sparks: That’s a powerful message. You’ve also mentioned embracing femininity in this series. Could you expand on that?

Julia San Roman: Yes, femininity is an important aspect of Remnants. I was influenced by the Pattern and Decoration Movement, another Southern California art movement. One specific piece was inspired by the Japanese screens of Robert Kushner. Through these works, I aim to celebrate the nurturing qualities of femininity and connect them to the care we must show toward our environment.

Sparks: Thank you, Julia. Your work is a beautiful blend of personal reflection and environmental advocacy.

Julia San Roman: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to share my journey and the meaning behind these series.