Justin Mullikin

Justin is a long-time art hobbyist who only settled on collage as his favorite medium after people seemed to enjoy his DIY holiday cards. He began making small gifts for friends and using collage as a way to relax. Justin began practicing his art in earnest after the birth of his daughter in June 2023, hoping to capture and pass along a little bit of the magic and whimsy he sees in the world to her. There is something about the clash of styles available in collage that draws the attention and messes with the mind. As a mild perfectionist, Justin also finds the ephemeral nature of the found images he works with exciting; when mistakes in cutting paper turn a planned piece into something unexpected and wildly beautiful. Most of his pieces end up emerging from chance encounters with old books in over-stuffed used book stores, flowering from a snippet of a dream, or discovered in a glimpse down an overgrown alleyway while out on a walk with his two dogs.

Originally from Kentucky, Justin is a long-time West Philly resident. He holds a PhD in geography from Rutgers University and is currently a lecturer in writing at the University of Pennsylvania. While teaching is his vocation, Justin will always wish he had more time for art.