Julie Harris

Julie Harris was born in 1947 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She received her formal artistic education at the University of Manitoba, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1969. Following her studies, she established a professional practice in Winnipeg that spanned several decades, focusing primarily on the rural and agricultural landscapes of the Canadian Prairies.

Harris specialized in oil on canvas, developing a signature style defined by high realism and precise attention to detail. Her body of work extensively documents the Interlake region of Manitoba, with a particular focus on the communities of Grosse Isle, Warren, and Riverton. Her compositions often feature weathered grain elevators, abandoned farmsteads, and the expansive horizon lines characteristic of the Manitoba plains. Beyond her prairie subjects, she also produced a significant series of works depicting the rugged, rocky terrain and water systems of Northwestern Ontario.

Throughout her career, Harris was an active member of the Manitoba Society of Artists (MSA). Her work was frequently selected for inclusion in provincial juried exhibitions, where she was recognized for her technical proficiency in capturing the atmospheric conditions of the Four Seasons. Her artistic process involved extensive field research and photography to ensure the architectural and botanical accuracy of her finished studio paintings.

The professional achievements of Julie Harris are reflected in several public and corporate collections. Her paintings are held in the permanent collection of the Province of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Additionally, her work is represented in the corporate holdings of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society and various municipal offices throughout the Interlake region. Harris continued to live and work in the Winnipeg area, contributing to the visual record of the Manitoba landscape until her later years.