Julia Sternkopf

Julia Sternkopf is an award-winning landscape artist based in Lake Hāwea, New Zealand. Her work is driven by a passion to bring the wonder and emotional power of the natural world into people’s homes through paint.

Born in Goldisthal, Germany in 1997, Julia was encouraged from an early age to explore creativity through drawing and painting. Although she stepped away from art during her teenage years, her move to Lake Hāwea in 2018 reignited her artistic path. Surrounded by vast alpine landscapes, she found both renewed inspiration and a deep connection to place.

What began as painting scenes from daily walks soon evolved into immersive backcountry explorations. These experiences profoundly shaped her artistic voice, allowing her to create works that move beyond representation. Her paintings capture not only the physical beauty of the landscape, but also the atmosphere, scale, and sense of awe felt within it.

Julia’s talent has been recognised through multiple exhibitions and awards, including winning the Premier Award at the Alexandra Blossom Festival in 2023 and receiving top honours at regional art competitions. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Wilderness Magazine and the Otago Daily Times, further establishing her as an emerging voice in New Zealand’s contemporary landscape art scene.