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Julie Frith is best known for her kinetic art mobile (sculpture). An artist born of two artist parents; Donald Frith (Professor of Ceramics U of I - 40 yrs.) a ceramicist and jeweler, and Barbara Frith (paintings) a winner of many awards for her paintings and sculptures. Julie, youngest of 4 grew up in a very artistic world. Raised in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Julie was violinist from the age of 7 playing in orchestra until the age of 18. Very studious she also was gifted with artistic skills. She was taught by her parents art structure basics and design, that took her to college for art and music. Then into many professional design, teaching, and visual management jobs after moving to Eureka California. Seeing and learning about modern art in museums around the world and art books as a child, Alexander Calder was always there. A big influence on her that intrigued her in making origami mobiles all the time for fun as a kid. Early 80's she and Brian Ladd (who she met in C-U college), started the music label Ladd-Frith, playing bass in the band called Psyclones. In the 90's Julie taught herself digital photography, computer graphics and making of her own website (that she still runs today). In 1998 Julie started selling her own line of art earrings, graphics and mobiles... on Ebay and in private galleries. Her mobiles caught on quickly as the yearning for Alexander Calder styled mobiles were being sought after. Mid Century modern was the big thing, with retro mobiles making a come back in home decor. She makes her main mobiles out of polished colored plastics and stainless steel, a little different from Alexander Calder who would work mainly with aluminum metals and paint. Like Calder, Julie loves to experiment with practically any material as a art subject. |
If she can balance it, then she can make it into a mobile. After having the experience of having a baby in her life, Julie noticed the need for more baby mobiles. Her promotional idea and approach for this style of art was creating "Modern Art for Babies" and "Art from Baby to College", something that would last a lifetime for that child. Julie created the first ever custom coloring of a mobile or stabile directly on line for buyers to match their nursery room decor. Selling mobiles all over the world, she and her husband Brian Ladd soon took full time jobs making mobiles together. Selling mostly online, she also has many art galleries and shops selling her work. Julie has made custom designed mobiles for such clients as Disney, Paramount, Universal Pictures, many Science Museums, Design Craftsmen, Kids II, Starbucks, Hard Rock Hotel to name a few. Her mobiles have been on television, in large magazines as Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Parents, Dwell, Cookie, McGuire Furniture Catalog, and even on the fronts of college text books. Her stabiles have been the actual awards given to architects and designers as their awards... many, many times. Custom designing mobiles and stabiles for clients around the world, Julie loves what she creates making them by hand, one at a time. Chicago Institute of Art Museum Shop and Ars Mundi out of Hannover Germany are now selling her work in their art catalogs. Getting art around the world... kinetically.
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