MIHALISIN/WALLING STUDIO BIOGRAPHIES

Julie Mihalisin and Philip Walling bring a unique level of experience to their collaborative work. They have over thirty years combined practice as professional artists. While Mihalisin dedicated her career to specific material explorations, Walling developed a reputation as a problem solver who could design and manufacture for a myriad of variables. The two chose to bring the glass and metal technique that Mihalisin had developed for her jewelry together with Walling’s architectural, material and building expertise to create wall sculptures that are not easily categorized.

Julie Mihalisin was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1962. She received her BFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, in 1987 and her MA RCA from the Royal College of Art, London, in 1989. Soon after she arrived in London she began a long-term exploration of hot glass and metal combinations in jewelry. Her unique work has been widely acclaimed both nationally and internationally. It can be found in numerous public and private collections including the American Craft Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass, and Smithsonian Institution.

Philip Walling was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957. In 1978, he started an architectural arts business, which he later moved to San Francisco, accepting a wide variety of architecturally and fine arts based commissions. His private patrons relied on him to design and manufacture their homes and interiors, from furniture to oil paintings. Corporate and industrial clients drew upon his diverse background in materials and a highly refined sense of design to commission one-of-a-kind and production works.

In 1993, Philip accepted an architectural commission in Seattle. In 1994, Julie moved to Seattle in hopes of finding a vital artistic community. Later that year, they met in a hardware store. They were married in 1996 and began collaborating in 1997. Since the inception of their collaboration, they have focused exclusively on working together. In 1999, they received a prestigious Pollock/Krasner Foundation grant for their mixed-media sculptures. Today their work is internationally respected and is included in some of the world's finest collections.

The sculptures, described as non-objective three-dimensional paintings, question the boundaries between the visual arts. Philip and Julie are influenced by and experienced in craft, design, architecture and the fine arts. They have an appreciation for all materials, but focus on those with which they have become highly adept, and incorporate numerous references to others, including fiber arts and painting. Both Julie and Philip’s pre-collaborative careers flourished within its specific context. Julie’s experience with galleries and museums combined with Philip’s success with corporate and private commissions has allowed them a combined experience and vision for the work.  

American Ceramic Society Ross C. Purdy Museum; Columbus, OH

American Craft Museum; New York, NY

Corning Museum of Glass; Corning, NY

Renwick Gallery, The Smithsonian Institution; Washington, DC

1999; Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

1995; Artist Trust - A Washington State Grant  

1993; West Virginia Artist Fellowship  

1993; Award of Excellence - ‘Works Off Walls’ The Huntington Museum of Art; Huntington, WV

1988-89; Overseas Research Award - A grant for overseas students

1988; Monet Scholarship (MJSA Scholarship)

1987;The Tyler Alumni Association’s Award for Outstanding  
                  Achievement in the Crafts

2001; Ornament Magazine; Vol. 24, No. 3 – “Contemporary Glass Jewelry”

2000; Nouvel Objet V

1998; New Glass Review 19

1997; Metalsmith Magazine; Vol. 17, No. 2 - Cover Article

1996; New Glass Review 17

1996; American Craft Magazine; Oct/Nov -‘Gallery’

1994; American Craft Magazine; June/July - ‘Gallery’

1993; Ornament Magazine; Vol. 17. No. 1 - Feature Article

1993; New Glass Review 14

1993, '91; Jewelry/Metalwork Survey ; Edited by David LaPlantz

1993; American Craft Magazine; Feb/Mar - ‘Portfolio’

1993; Glass Magazine; Issue #52 - ‘Glass Jewelry’

2001; International Art Exposition; Palm Springs, FL

2001,’00; Artpalmbeach; Palm Beach, FL

1999; Contemporary Glass Sculpture Invitational; Tampa, FL

1992-‘01; SOFA; Chicago, Miami, New York

1997; Tucson Museum of Art; Tucson, AZ

1996-‘97; Three Generations; Mobilia Gallery; Boston, MA

1995-‘97; American Revelations; touring Europe

1993-‘94; Huntington Museum of Art; Huntington, W V

1993; Year of American Craft:  Handmade Past & Present; WV Cultural Center

1993; Huntington Museum of Art; Huntington, WV

1991; The Bead:  A Contemporary Survey; Baltimore, MD

1991; Materials:  Hard & Soft; Denton, TX

2000; R. Duane Reed; St. Louis, MO

1997,’94; Heller Gallery; New York, NY

1996; Riley Hawk Gallery; Cleveland, OH

1996,’93; Sybaris Gallery; Royal Oak, MI

1999; Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

  2000; Nouvel Objet V

2001; International Art Exposition, Palm Springs, FL

2001, ’00; Artpalmbeach, Palm Beach, FL

2001-‘97; SOFA; Chicago, New York

2000; R. Duane Reed, St. Louis, MO

1986; Commissioned to design and execute three large pieces of furniture replete with hand-carved ornamental details for a private client

1986; Commissioned to design Victorian architectural brackets

1985; Commissioned by a private client to design and execute complete authentic period renovation of a Victorian interior.

1985; Commissioned by owner of above project to manufacture a large freestanding cabinet replete with hand-painted floral design

1985; Commissioned by a private client to cut and set an entire floor in three stones, based on one of my oil paintings

1984; Commissioned to demolish, redesign and manufacture a Victorian façade. Designed eight unique architectural brackets, manufactured sixty brackets, numerous custom moldings and two plaster arches

1983; Commissioned by a major corporation to design and manufacture two lecterns and one large folding screen

1981-82; Relocated to San Francisco. Started carving a niche as an interior designer and space planner who also executed his own architectural, furniture and two-dimensional designs

1981-82; Worked at becoming adept with numerous materials

1979-81; Established a business in Fort Worth, Texas, which focused primarily on complete interior renovations of homes that were built in the 1920’s

1979-81; Completed four major projects, three of which were for museum curators, in less than three years