• I have always viewed the world through a lens of art and design.

    Every canvas, every wall, and every space is an opportunity to create something that looks and feels a certain way. A work of art can be a whole world unto itself. It can also be part of a broader visual conversation. Regardless of the specific discipline, materials, or tools, there’s an overlying set of design principles, a common language of color, light, line, texture, and balance

    My journey has pushed me to explore a wide range of media, style, scale, and subject matter, and I’ve learned I thrive on that variety. All approaches have their strengths and curiosities, and there’s endless overlap between them. I enjoy working with the big picture and the granular details, and I’m intrigued by the power of context. It’s thrilling to watch something visually transform by changing what’s around it.

    I aim for a thoughtful juxtaposition of opposites in my work. Warm against cool, hard against soft, bold against subtle… pushing contrast draws the eye and engages the viewer, while quiet spaces invite the viewer to stay a while. I find images that combine abstracted and representational elements especially satisfying.

    Art-making is also therapeutic for me. There is comfort, stability, and sometimes escape in the studio. Seeking inspiration for new projects encourages me to focus on what I find beautiful and interesting. Creating allows me to bring order to chaos, even if in just a small way, and offers me a chance to make my mark in the world.

    Whichever form they take, art and design are lifelong friends to me — a trusted refuge and an endless source of joy and fascination.

  • Juliana Craig (b.1977) is an American artist and designer known for creating dynamic works in a variety of media.

    She grew up in the Texas hill country surrounded by rugged beauty and an endless sky. From an early age, her father did drawing exercises with her and took her to picturesque settings so she could sketch on site. She wanted to be a character animator and was constantly illustrating faces and figures.

    Upon entering the Studio Art program at the University of Texas at Austin, she decided instead to become a freelance artist. Studio time was dedicated to honing skills in life drawing and painting, and she made pocket money doing portraiture. She graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and moved to Durham, North Carolina.

    SAS Institute Inc. hired her as an Artist in Residence in January of 2000. Originally tasked with art production, her responsibilities expanded to include art procurement and placement, collection management, and engagement programs such as art tours, tutorials, and workshops.

    Juliana’s work at SAS has shaped her as a “creative.” The job requires versatility in and out of the studio, and she has trained with renowned instructors across the U.S. and in Europe to expand her skillset. She loves to generate artful solutions and collaborate with other designers. She’s been exposed to the art and ideas of thousands of contemporary artists, most significantly fellow Artists in Residence Holly Brewster Jones and Pete Sack. She works alongside master craftsmen and has access to a shop where almost anything can be fabricated. With this wealth of resources, she has contributed over 400 pieces to the corporate collection.

    Juliana also participates in solo and group exhibitions and does private commissions. Her life is filled with art, design, music, and family. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her three daughters and her partner, Chad Bush. In 2020, they converted half of the first floor of their home into a large art studio where the whole family can create.

  • Education

    1999- BA Studio Art / University of Texas at Austin

    Professional Experience

    1995 to Present- Independent Commission Work

    2000 to Present- SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC / Artist in Residence

    Solo Exhibitions

    2021- The Solace of Art and Nature, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC

    2004- Beaufort Historical Association Featured Artist, Beaufort, NC

    Group Exhibitions

    2017 & 2012- SAS Artists in Residence, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC

    2015- SAS Artists in Residence, Cary Arts Center, Cary, NC

    2005- Art from the SAS Collection, Page Walker House, Cary, NC

    2005 & 2004- Fine Arts League of Cary Juried Art Exhibition, Cary, NC

    2004 & 2002- Southeastern Pastel Society Juried Art Exhibition, Marietta, GA

    2001- Watercolor Society of North Carolina Juried Art Exhibition, Raleigh, NC

    1997 & 1996- Juried Student Art Exhibition, University of Texas, Austin, TX

    Collections

    SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC

    The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC

    Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, NC