In the Artist Spotlight: Justine Kuran, I know you'll enjoy meeting this prolific Melbourne quiller and hearing how she's built a commercial quilling business doing mostly large-scale works. Here's a hint: an unabashed love of the art. 

Prolific Paper Quilling Artist: Justine Kuran (allthingspaper.net)

I want to share with you one of my proudest professional moments. From today this hamsa, created especially for the 'Jews from Islamic Lands' exhibition, will become part of the permanent collection of the Sydney Jewish Museum. My husband’s family were all Holocaust victims and survivors so it is even more special that it has found it’s home where their memory’s can never be forgotten. It is a moving and proud moment to end a difficult year on. I hope 2022 brings us all the luck and security that is symbolised by the hamsa. If you would like to see the Jews from Islamic Lands exhibition, you can take a virtual tour by clicking the link below. Happy new year to you all. Jus x

Virtual Tours - Sydney Jewish Museum

It was such a lovely surprise to find out I had been listed amongst '64 Brilliant Paper Artists to Follow' by Design and Paper. Read the full article by clicking on the link below.

64 Brilliant Paper Artists to Follow on Instagram - Design & Paper (designandpaper.com)

I am so excited that my very first MUSEUM piece will be included in the upcoming exhibition, 'Jews of Islamic Lands' at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Additionally, there will be a number of special pieces available in the gift shop and a limited edition (of 50) full size prints of the hamsa I made especially for the exhibition.

'Jews of Islamic Lands'opens at The Sydney Jewish Museum on March 20.

Sometimes opportunities come along that are completely unexpected but lead to infinite possibilities.

One such opportunity appeared in the form of Martine Harte, the dynamic and acclaimed journalist and publisher of Engaging Women who was aware of my artwork and approached me about doing an interview and photo shoot in my home and studio.  We had been following each other on social media for a while so I was really excited about meeting Martine and giving a voice, not just to my art, but also to my other passion, Breaking Challah.

After recruiting my genius design-guru friend and winner of (my favourite show) 'The Block', Chantelle Ford of Ford Millinery to style my very ordinary home into a showpiece, Martine arrived to conduct the interview. It was a crazy day as I had 35 people coming for dinner the following night and half of my house was in complete disarray. Needless to say, that half of the house was off-limits to the lens.

Tania Savage's photos are so vibrant and gorgeous (just look at the one of my puppy) and my interview went in directions I hadn't expected.  I really love the piece Martine wrote, and I feel incredibly proud and humbled to share space with a host of some of the most accomplished and engaging women in our community.

Justine Kuran Melbourne artist (engagingwomen.com.au)

In honour of his State visit to Australia and his generous support of Youth Futures, UIA Victoria presented President Reuven Rivlin of Israeli a bespoke artwork by Justine Kuran.  This map of Israel celebrates the friendship of our two nations; the map made with a nod to our indigenous dot paintings, and with the rich colours of Australia, the yellow wattle, our floral emblem, the green eucalyptus of our native trees, the burnt orange of our glorious sunsets, the off-white sands of our pristine beaches, the red of outback Uluru, the gold to symbolise our precious metals and our 'gold rush' history, and the brown and tan of indigenous art drawings. We hope it finds a home, and creates memories of this Australian visit, in the land of Israel.

After a year of working almost exclusively towards my dream, my first solo exhibition is almost here.

31 May - 17 June

Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery

Cnr Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield

(Entrance and parking on Glen Eira Road)

FREE FLOOR TALK

Friday, 15 June at 12.30 

I invite you to come to the Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery in Melbourne to see what I've been working on.  This exhibition is a huge departure from my earlier works.  My new pieces are more contemporary, with a nod to some iconic artworks, artists and symbols, and I have been playing with new colour combinations and different techniques.  

A percentage of every sale at my exhibition will go to support two NCJWA programs that are very dear to my heart. The first is the JAM project, a mentoring program for year 9 girls and the second is Caring Mums, another mentoring program that supports vulnerable new mothers.

Most artworks will be available for sale both before and during the exhibition. Enquiries welcome.

I recently had the pleasure of attending Justine’s opening night thanks to Helen Reizer from HRPR with a star studded Melbourne Audience who were absolutely amazed at the work and time that had gone into creating these truly breathtaking three dimensional designs made only from paper. There are only a handful of commercial quilling artists in Australia and our Melbourne girl Justine Kuran is one of them.

Justine Kuran presents her 'Paper Round' Exhibition 31 May -June 17 - Melbourne My Style

WHEN Justine Kuran bought a quilling kit from a two dollar shop, she did not dream that she would become a master of the art form — much less, that she would be launching her first solo exhibition just five years later.

A paper round to astound – The Australian Jewish News

I can't tell you how excited I was when I was asked to create a special piece to celebrate the birthday and visit to Australia of a Hollywood ICON!  

EVERYONE LOVES Goldie, so it seemed fitting to create a heart , the universal symbol of love, and to fill it with flowers and butterflies in the warm, earthy tones of the Australian Outback. The bronze paper was hand-gilded in Mornington and the frame was Victorian Ash, an Australian hardwood grown in the Southern and mountain ranges of Australia. When I presented it to her, she told me that the heart is her favourite symbol and that she lives her life by its meaning. She also told me that the colours were her favourite and then whispered to me that her own mother had loved butterflies.

Goldie was here promoting the The HawnFoundation, specifically the MindUp program that promotes emotional wellbeing and mindfulness in schools. 

I have named the piece ‘I know in my heart…’ taken from a quote on the MindUp website;

“However, while I am proud of the impact we have made, our work is not done and I know in my heart, that with the amazing help and support we are finding in the world today, we will be unstoppable!” Goldie Hawn

Late last year I was commissioned to create a piece of art for legendary actress, artist and philanthropist, Jane Seymour.  This design was taken from a painting by Jane from her 'Open Hearts' collection.  I took some creative licence by inverting the design, a nod to the times we are living in - that there is always more than one way to see something.  This image is also the logo for her Open Hearts Foundation.  Making this and meeting Jane was such a joy and a privilege, and special because I also have my own 'Open Hearts' series of hamsas.    I love the words that inspire her foundation - "Open hears reflects life's joys, heartaches and inspirations and symbolises that only when you can love yourself and keep your heart open are you able to give and receive love."

Following the success of the piece I created for the former Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, I was asked to design and create another piece for the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard.  Mr Howard was the Prime Minister who, in the wake of the devastating Port Arthur tragedy, vowed that it would never happen again, and introduced a firearm buy-back scheme.  Since then, we have had NO mass murders.  I believe it is one of the greatest legacies of any Australian political administration, so I was thrilled to create this map of Australia for him.