In this episode of Creative women, leading change, hosts Mirjana Arlaud and Shea Karssing sit down with Júlia Mota Albuquerque — a multidisciplinary artist working between Berlin and Brazil, whose murals, illustrations and public art amplify diversity, climate consciousness, inclusion and women’s sports.
Júlia believes art should meet people where they are. From climate communication to murals in public spaces, her work invites us to slow down, reconnect, and see the world through a more intentional lens.
Most recently, we had the privilege of working with Julia to bring the Green Climate Fund COP30 Pavilion to life. What we love is how her illustrations capture the human, warm, cultural richness and the hopeful energy at the heart of our concept.
Together, we explore how human connection, craft, and storytelling can reshape how we learn, feel and act, especially at the intersection of climate and culture. Júlia also shares how risk-taking, curiosity, and bold life choices led her from competitive tennis to a creative career with global impact.
Episode highlights
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How public art can make climate communication accessible, emotional and human
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The role of murals and illustration in building community and sparking dialogue
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Why the future of creativity may be more handmade, not less
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How Júlia turned risks like quitting an internship to moving continents into opportunity
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What AI can’t replace: human intention, cultural context, and connection
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Why slowing down and working with real people matters more in a digital world
Quotes from Júlia
“After finishing my master’s, I did one freelance project. Once I got paid, I quit my internship. I had no clients, no experience, no idea how to get clients, and I went full-time freelancing.”
Climate change and human rights are global issues, and global issues are hard to grasp because they’re numbers and data. For a normal person, it’s hard to understand the scale. Illustration makes it more accessible, a bit more breathable. It helps people see how they can impact something in a small way that accumulates into something big. And I think it also grabs attention because it’s aesthetically pleasing — which is important too.”
“I personally want to be off my phone, to create traditionally. I think we might see a comeback of traditional ways of making art.”
“I’ve always loved cities and thinking about what makes a city more livable, what brings people together.”
“When I paint murals, I meet everyone who uses that space every day. I’m there for ten days talking to everyone. It feels like you’re making an impact. You meet the people who will benefit from the work. I’d love to keep working more with my hands, with real people, real places, and documenting them.”
Resources & actions from this episode
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Explore Júlia’s work at Land of Julia
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Read Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
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Listen to The Wellness Scoop podcast
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Seek out public art in your city — and share the stories behind it
