Julia Mandle

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Join date: Dec 16, 2019

About

Julia Mandle is the founder of Art LAB Amsterdam and the main instructor. She spent 15 years in NYC working as a professional artist and has become well known in Amsterdam for her unique teaching programs, especially her school-wide exhibitions of "Klik” the digital black & white photography project at the elementary schools of Ijburg (Laterna Magica and Montessori Steigereiland). Reviewed in several articles, the exhibitions astonished many viewers by the ability of the children and professional quality of the presented artwork.

Julia Mandle has a Master's degree in Fine Art and a Bachelor's degree in Art History with special honors. She believes in making art accessible to all ages and abilities. She comes from a family of artists including two generations of painters. Like Julia, her grandmother also founded her own small-scale arts program in her home atelier. Julia's father was the director of the prestigious American arts academy, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Each year Mandle encourages her students to enter into International Art Competitions. Each year one or more of her young students have won and placed in each competition, including at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam!

Mandle's own artwork is conceptual, ranging widely in material and is exhibited internationally. For more information about her artwork, visit: www.JuliaMandleArt.com

Posts (4)

Dec 3, 2025 ∙ 2 min

Exploring Anger Through the Inside-Out Method

At Art Lab Amsterdam, children learn that creativity is not only about techniques and materials—it's also a way to understand themselves. This week, our older students explored one of the most powerful and misunderstood emotions: anger . Many children have recently shared (or shown) that they are struggling a bit at their elementary schools. Big feelings can be hard to manage at that age, and art can be a deeply helpful place to process them. So I designed a special class using my signature ...

Nov 27, 2025 ∙ 2 min

Inside the Studio: A Magical Week of Silhouettes & Horses

One of my favourite things about teaching is watching children light up when a simple idea opens a whole new doorway into creativity. This past week, we explored the world of silhouettes — a project that was inspired by shapes, horses, and the magical world of South African artist William Kentridge . Younger Children: Horses & the Magic of Triangles We began with a simple idea: learning to draw a horse using triangles for the neck, head, and ears. The moment the images of horses appeared,...

Nov 14, 2025 ∙ 2 min

Dream Mapping at Art Lab Amsterdam: Exploring Fantasy, Feelings & New Techniques

Last week, our studio transformed into a place of wandering paths, imaginative landscapes, and joyful discovery as the children created “Dream Maps” —fantasy neighbourhoods filled with loved ones, animals, ancestors, and the places that matter to them. The project was inspired by the Aboriginal artist Rover Thomas , whose earthy, map-like paintings blur the lines between land, memory, and dream. His work gently guided us to think of maps not only as directions, but as stories about...