Julia Ustinovich (Poland) is an internationally recognized contemporary watercolor painter. Born in 1984 in Krasnoyarsk, Central Siberia (Russia), her professional career and recognition are closely associated with the art scene of Poland, the country to which she immigrated in 2016.
She graduated with honors from an art school in Krasnoyarsk. Her work is distinguished by an expressive figurative approach, masterfully using water and color to capture the dynamic beauty and emotional essence of her subjects. She has built a solid reputation by blending fluid technique with impactful, lively compositions. Her career focuses on developing as an independent contemporary artist, constantly testing her skills in the world’s most demanding watercolor competitions.
The quality of her work has been systematically recognized globally, which is reflected in a long list of recent accolades: in 2025, she received the Honorable Mention Award in both the “International Watercolor Academy Award” in Rome, Italy, and the “Festival International de Acuarela Córdoba” in Spain; she was selected as an artist for the “International Watercolour Masters” in Shropshire, UK, in 2024; she has been a selected artist for the prestigious “FabrianoInAquarello” festival in Bologna and Fabriano, Italy, in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021; she won 3rd place in the “Young Talent Watercolor Award 2023” of the international “Do You Speak Watercolor?” contest; she received a Special Award in the international “Step By Step” competition twice (2021 and 2020); and she won 2nd place in the 1st International Watercolor Biennale in Poland in 2020.
Her success in the competitive global arena establishes her as an expert in modern technique and figurative expression. As a virtual juror for the Tartget Prize 2026, she will bring a modern and rigorous perspective, valuing innovation, vitality, and sensitivity within the demanding standards of global watercolor art.