It was only a matter of time before Julio Mendoza, artistically known as Juls, opened his own studio. Mendoza, originally from El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, has been an artistic wanderer of sorts, offering his services as a muralist and collaborating with local businesses to fund his dreams of being a full-time artist.
We caught up with Mendoza at his new studio in Westwood as he marked the career milestone with a soft opening this past weekend. A little while before visitors arrived, Mendoza's partner was busy trying to wrap prints that would be up for sale while he tidied up and made sure his standing heater was warming up the cozy space.
The small studio, located at 3800 Morrison Rd., can fit about 10 people comfortably before they have to Tetris their way around the space. Its walls are lined with Mendoza's works, like a hand-embellished canvas print of a Bison that he originally used as a mural for FarOut Mural Fest in 2022.
Mendoza's art delves into Latinidad through interpretations of Aztec and Mayan culture and snapshots of foods and other items familiar to many Latino households, like elote, trompos, and lots of children. Wildlife also plays a role in his art.
There was a time when it was difficult for Mendoza to describe his art to people. Eventually he landed on describing it as cultural surrealism.
"[My art] is very rooted in my culture and mixes my childhood memories with bright colors," Mendoza said. And if you look long enough, it sometimes feels like the colors begin to move on their own.
Mendoza, 32, can now display that work in Westwood, a place that's been his home for several years, thanks to help from Re:Vision, a nonprofit in the neighborhood which offers space at its RISE Westwood Campus affordable for local artists. Mendoza is excited about the chance to experiment with projects in a space he can finally call his own.
While the studio is officially in use, it will only be open to the public on special events and some First Fridays. Mendoza said he would let his social media followers know when they can visit (you can find his profiles here).
Last year, Denverite spoke to Mendoza about one of his first murals in Denver that he painted at Lupe's Auto Body on Mississippi and Sheridan. He did not have a portfolio of murals at the time. When he asked the owner for permission to paint a mural on his wall the owner agreed and said, "Yeah, as long as you don't paint anything gang related."
Mendoza has experimented with digital projects and plans to keep working in that space.
One of Mendoza's plans for the studio is to use the space to develop his podcast, "ARTE in Spanglish," a bilingual podcast that will cover all things art with other creators in the city. He wants to invite artists and collaborators into his studio to have dialogues about their own creative processes and careers.
A year ago, in partnership with Raices Brewing Co., Mendoza designed 3 NFT's for the local brewery. He admits that he is still unsure about the concept of digital art, but he does understand the need to be innovative in a competitive market.
"It shows when the art you make is real, or if you are just following trends," Mendoza said, admitting that he is still coming to terms with the desire to authentically create and his need to financially support his career as an artist. Aside from painting, he also hopes to learn how to create custom rugs using a technique known as tufting.
When asked how he felt about the future of his art career, he was quick to credit the Westwood community for embracing him with open arms over the years. He's excited about the opportunity to add to the fabric of what businesses like Cultura Chocolate and Ana Marina Studio are doing on the same street.
"It feels like community," Mendoza said, "and that is all that matters."
