Meet the new featured artists on Studio Shangri-La’s Exhibitions Gallery page! Our upcoming exhibit is coming soon, with curated exhibitions and collaborative installations in Miami and online.
Julia Gardow
Featured Studio Guest • Kinetic & Conceptual
Julia Gardow is a 23 year old artist and water/wastewater engineer. She graduated from Boston College in 2025 where she studied Human-Centered Engineering and Studio Art with a focus on painting.
One of Julia’s artistic themes is the intersection of art and engineering. For her senior art exhibition, she synched 18 clock mechanisms to display a moving picture that changed every 15 minutes and told the story of materials that stay with us over time waiting to be used.
Julia’s most recent collection of work was inspired by her time in Braunschweig Germany in the summer of 2025, where she participated in an art fellowship interning at the Museum für Photographie Braunschweig. Julia painted a watercolor each day she was there, turning ordinary scenes into a beautiful, recorded moment.
Julia’s pieces, whether moving or not, are time stamps of seemingly ordinary moments presented in a not so ordinary way. These are intended to remind ourselves of the simple and even delightful events, objects, or landscapes, that may slip through the cracks of our lives.
Julia is excited to bring her artwork to Studio Shangri-La, exploring themes of storytelling and time through kinetic paintings.
John Mendizabal
Featured Studio Guest • Sculptural & Installation
John Mendizabal is a 25-year-old, Boston-based multimedia artist who uses film, photography, and sculpture to create immersive experiences for his audiences. He is very excited to exhibit work with Studio Shangri-La in Miami, Florida, where he will bring light sculptures that combine nature photography and laser-cutter-assisted printmaking.
John creates art at the intersection of different disciplines, combining photography, laser cutting, woodworking, printmaking, and installation. He has told stories about nature, climate justice, Boston fishing culture, and his family’s immigration.
In January 2026, John created an installation composed of keepsakes, letters, and photographs that tells the story of his family’s immigration, his childhood home, and the act of discovering his ancestors through the stories and objects they left behind. In August 2026, he presented a collection of large, suspended wooden sculptures, including a chandelier inspired by the form of traditional lobster cages that paid homage to the original Massachusetts lobster cage craftsmen.
He has also used documentary filmmaking to tell stories about climate resilience with communities in Ecuador, Tanzania, and India. His films and artwork have been presented at Boston College, Colby College, Lesley University, and the Fort Point Arts Community.
He currently works as a high school educator at The Possible Zone, creating project-based STEAM classes including sewing, digital storytelling, lighting design, cooking, and architecture.
Portfolio | YouTube | Instagram
Host Artist Exhibition: Sarah K. Ikerd
Fine Art & Conceptual Media
Exploring the fascinating crossover between natural geometry, system structures, and universal consciousness. Her selections focuses on high contrast textures and vibrant colors, as well as immersive and experiential installation.
See the featured artists on the Exhibitions Gallery page.
Artists: Expression of Interest
Interested in exhibiting with Studio Shangri-La, in person or online, or in representation? Share a little about yourself and your work and we’ll be in touch.
