Julia Christensen is an artist and writer currently based in Oberlin, Ohio, whose work treads the fine line between art and research. She is the author of Big Box Reuse, recently published by the MIT Press. This book is a product of her ongoing investigation into how communities are renovating and reusing abandoned big box buildings.
A solo exhibition of Christensen's work, entitled Your Town Inc. is on display at the Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University, (August 29-November 23, 2008, curated by Astria Suparak). This fall, Christensen's photographs will also be on display at the Carnegie Museum of Fine Arts as a part of the show "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes" (October 4-January 18), and she has a solo show at the Gallery at the Green Building in Louisville, KY (December 5-January30). She recently completed two commisions for net art through Turbulence.org. Her new media, video and installation work has also shown at the Lincoln Center in NY, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the DUMBO Art Center in Brooklyn, among other venues. Christensen also lectures widely.
She has performed as a musician in such locations as 21 Grand and the Acme Observatory in Oakland, CA. She is also the director of the up and coming Women's New Music Performance Ensemble, at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Christensen holds the chair of Luce Visiting Professor of the Emerging Arts at Oberlin College and Conservatory, where she teaches in the Studio Arts and TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts) Departments. She has also taught at Stanford University and the California College of the Arts, among other universities.