ABOUT
Rooted in story.
Driven by connection.
Julie Xiao is a visual artist based in Indianapolis whose practice spans ink, acrylic, and public murals. Drawing inspiration from Chinese painting, Japanese woodblock prints, film and comics, she creates detailed, narrative-driven works inspired by mythology, wildlife, and the natural world, often exploring multicultural identity and belonging.
Her practice ranges from intimate illustrations to large scale landscapes and murals. Working across a variety of materials and scales, Julie combines traditional and contemporary influences to create immersive worlds that invite curiosity, reflection, and an emotional connection. Through her work, she hopes to encourage viewers to slow down, reconnect with nature, history, and find moments of calm within everyday life.
Xiao earned her BFA in Animation from Ball State University and her MFA in Visual Art from the Herron School of Art and Design.
Education
2023 MFA in Visual Art
Herron School of Art and Design
2019 BFA in Animation
Ball State University
Exhibitions & Public Art
2026
PENROD ART FAIR
Art Fair | Penrod - Newfields | Indianapolis, IN
NEWFIELDS STAR STUDIO INSTALLATION
Installation | Newfields Art Museum| Indianapolis, IN
HOOSIERS: ROOTS & RESILIENCE EXHIBITION
Group Exhibition | Treasurer’s Office | Indianapolis, IN
TIGER IN BLOOM - SIDEWALK GALLERIES LIGHT BOX MURAL
Public Art | Indy Arts Council | Indianapolis, Indiana
A GREAT DAY - JEFFERSONVILLE INSTALLATION
Painting | Slate Contemporary | Jeffersonville, IN
INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT EXHIBIT
Public Installation | Indy Arts Council | Indianapolis, IN
ON-RAMP CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Fellowship & Grant | Indianapolis Arts Commission | Indianapolis, IN
2025
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF WORTHINGTON, MN
Public Art | Walmart | Worthington, MN
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF TRUMANN, AR
Public Art | Walmart | Trumann, AR
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
Public Art | Walmart | Corpus Christi, TX
FISHERS ART SHOW SUMMER SHINE
Group Exhibition | Fishers Arts Council| Fishers, Indiana
OH ART FOUNDATION - 3RD ANNUAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Group Exhibition | Zhou B Art Center | Chicago, Illinois
SOLO EXHIBITION - SUN KING
Solo Exhibition | Sun King | Indianapolis, Indiana
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF DEL RIO, TX
Public Art | Walmart | Del Rio, TX
TAKE FLIGHT - TUBE PROCESSING MURAL
Public Art | Tube Processing Corp | Indianapolis, Indiana
A CELEBRATION OF BEAN CREEK AND GARFIELD PARK MURAL
Public Art - Group Mural | Big Car | Safeway Indianapolis, IN
GOLDEN TICKET COLOR SHOW (2nd place winner)
Group Exhibition| Harrison Center | Indianapolis, IN
2024
TINY SHOW XIII
Group Exhibition | Indy Arts Council | Indianapolis, Indiana
FIRE MOTHER - CHICKEN CHAPEL MURAL
Public Art | Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Indiana
SOLO EXHIBITION - CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS
Solo Exhibition | CAMi | Indianapolis, Indiana
BEAN CREEK MURALS - BEE & CICADA
Public Art | Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis| Indianapolis, Indiana
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF BEECH GROVE, IN
Public Art | Walmart | Beech Grove, Indiana
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL, IN
Public Art | Walmart | Carmel, Indiana
SIDEWALKGALLERIES STORE FRONT WINDOW MURAL
Public Art | Indy Arts Council | Indianapolis, Indiana
CHALK ART MURALS AT THE ATHENAEUM
Public Art | Athenaeum Foundation | Indianapolis, Indiana
WALMART MURAL FOR THE CITY OF SCOTTSBURG
Public Art | Walmart | Scottsburg, Indiana
2023
CITIZENS ENERGY COMMUNITY MURAL
Public Art | Big Car Media | Indianapolis, Indiana
LIVE PAINTING FOR GAINBRIDGE, 107TH RUNNING OF INDY 500
Public Art | Gainbridge | Indianapolis, Indiana
KEEP IT 500
Group Exhibition | Gallery 924 | Indianapolis, Indiana
WELCOME RACE FANS
Public Art | Indy Arts Council & IMS | Indianapolis, Indiana
2022
HYGGE WINDOW DISPLAY
Public Art | Harrison Center | Indianapolis, Indiana
GINGER & SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE
Group Exhibition | Harrison Center | Indianapolis, Indiana
A SCIFI AND FANTASY EXHIBITION
Group Exhibition | Garfield Park Arts Center | Indianapolis, Indiana
PHENOMENON
Group Exhibition | Arts Illiana Gallery | Terre Haute, Indiana
FLORA AND FAUNA
Group Exhibition | Sullivan Munce Cultural Center | Zionsville, Indiana
Work Experience
Public Art and Program Manager June 2023 - Present
Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis / Big Car | Indianapolis, Indiana
Associate Professor Aug. 2023 - Present
Indiana University | Indianapolis, Indiana
Gallery Fellow Jan. - May 2023
Herron Gallery | Indianapolis, Indiana
Graduate Assistant Aug. - Dec. 2022
Indiana University | Indianapolis, Indiana
Concept Artist for Minnetrista Canning Game Jan. - May 2019
Animator & 3D Modeler for Bee Mine Short Film Aug. - Dec. 2018
Illustrator for Conservation Tales Book Series Jan. - May 2018