INTERVIEW JULIA OURO PRETO

 1. Who is Julia Ouro Preto?

If you could describe yourself in five words, how would you do it?

Adaptable, creative, honest, curious, adventurous.

If they were to make a movie about your life, which actor would play you?

A lot of people say that Aubrey Plaza has my essence and personality in her roles — I think she’d be perfect!

2. A semester in Asia — an unusual place to live

You spent some time in Taiwan, which is quite an uncommon destination. What led you to choose to spend time there?

I’m someone who’s always seeking to step out of my comfort zone, and from the very beginning of college, I knew I wanted to do my exchange program in an Asian country. Asia has always sparked my curiosity precisely because it’s so different from everything I had ever experienced or known. I had already lived in Europe for three years, so I wanted an experience that would be even more challenging and transformative. I chose Taiwan without knowing anything about the country — which, in fact, was part of the decision. I wanted to throw myself into the unknown and allow myself to live something completely new.

What surprised you the most in a positive way while living in Asia?

What surprised me the most in a positive way while living in Asia was, without a doubt, the people. I arrived with an open mind but also with a huge fear that I wouldn’t be able to connect with anyone and would end up feeling lost in such a different environment from what I was used to. But by allowing myself to meet people completely outside my bubble — with cultures, experiences, and worldviews very different from my own — I experienced exchanges that deeply marked me and changed the person I am today. I’m writing this from Prague, next to a Czech friend I met during my exchange program, who has become an essential part of my personal growth and maturity. I made friends who now hold a very special place in my life and had conversations I never would have had if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone.

In addition, the Taiwanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Balinese, and Filipino people welcomed me so warmly that I felt at home. That made it much easier to connect with the local cultures and gain a deeper understanding of the customs and values of each place.

What were the biggest challenges of living in a place so culturally different from Brazil?

I think the language barrier was one of the biggest challenges. I lived about 50 minutes away from Taipei City, in a small district where there were mostly students and Taiwanese families who had little to no contact with foreigners. Most people didn’t speak English, so I had to figure things out on my own from the very beginning. Even though I took an intensive Mandarin course, my level was still very basic, which made it hard to express myself and communicate properly.

I also struggled to adapt to the food there, and since the options in my area were quite limited, I ended up eating at the same three restaurants for almost the entire semester. In Brazil, we eat so well, right? And my dad is a professional chef, so I grew up in a very gourmet household — Taiwan was the complete opposite of that. I forced myself to try lots of new things (I’ll admit, I didn’t like most of them), but that’s how I discovered my love for bubble tea. I think I drank one every day — there was a boba shop on every corner (it’s originally a Taiwanese drink).

What do you think you could only have learned by spending a semester in Asia?

I think one of the most valuable things I could only have learned by living a semester in Asia was the importance and power of starting over. Being in a completely new place, where no one knew me, gave me the freedom to rediscover myself — to question who I was and consciously decide who I wanted to be. It was the first time I could truly reinvent myself without the weight of other people’s expectations, without labels or references from my past. I had the chance to build relationships from scratch, simply being who I was in that moment, with more presence and authenticity. That was deeply liberating.

I also realized that there is something very powerful about opening yourself up to the unknown, to discomfort, and trusting that you’ll find your way even without a map. It was an experience that taught me about autonomy, authenticity, and the beauty of getting a little lost — so you can find yourself again in a more complete way.

3. Spain and Cultural Contrasts

How was your experience living in Spain compared to Asia?

Living in Spain and then in Asia were very different, yet complementary experiences. I moved to Spain after living 18 years in São Paulo and went straight to Segovia — a small city with castles and Roman aqueducts, home to only about 50,000 inhabitants. In Segovia, the parties took place by lakes, rivers, caves, and mountains, and living in such a peaceful place taught me to value simplicity and slow down a bit. With so much free time, I was able to explore my art, connect with nature (something I didn’t do much in São Paulo), and experience what people call the slow life.

The two years I spent in Segovia were very special — not only for making new friendships but also for strengthening old ones. Many friends from São Paulo went there with me, which brought a sense of familiarity amidst a new environment. At the same time, life in a small city made it easier to form closer and deeper connections, and I made friends from many different nationalities and backgrounds.

After that, I moved to Madrid, where the transition from a small city to a busy capital was a bit challenging at first. But it also opened new possibilities and brought a more dynamic rhythm of life, with greater access to culture, art, and diversity. I lived with a girl from Jordan, and later with a French roommate — it wasn’t always easy, but it taught me a lot about respecting cultural differences.

In Asia, especially in Taiwan, the experience was completely different in every sense: the language, food, customs, friendships, and cultural values were unlike anything I had ever known. While Spain offered me familiarity and a kind of warmth that felt closer to Brazil, Asia pushed me completely out of my comfort zone and made me spend much more time alone. It was there that I truly learned how to handle things on my own, to face the unknown, and to adapt to a context where almost nothing was familiar.

Both experiences were essential to my growth, but in opposite ways: one offered comfort and introspection, and the other, expansion and reinvention.

Did you feel closer to Spanish culture because of the language and Latin roots, or did you find other unexpected similarities?

I arrived in Spain already speaking Spanish fluently, which made cultural integration much easier. Spaniards, like Brazilians, are warm, passionate about football, love to party, and have a very spontaneous approach to social life. In many moments, I felt like I was in a familiar and comfortable environment. Of course, there are differences — like the sense of humor, the straightforward way of speaking, and the meal times — but overall, I found myself in a setting that balanced the new and the familiar quite well. It was definitely a much smoother adaptation than in Asia.

4. Living Alone and Living Abroad

Living abroad is already challenging on its own. What was it like for you to be alone in a foreign country? And what kind of growth do you see in yourself today that came from that experience?

I think living alone in Spain wasn’t that hard for me, mainly because I was surrounded by people who had known me for years. Having friends nearby who understood my story, my habits, and my essence gave me a sense of belonging. Knowing there were people who truly got me made me feel less alone — and that, in the beginning, made all the difference.

But over time, I realized that living abroad is also an invitation to develop independence. And I actually enjoyed discovering that side of myself: learning to cook and decide what to eat, what to buy, how to decorate my home (something I love), and building my own routine with total freedom. Eventually, the thought of “being alone” stopped scaring me.

I took many solo trips during my four years living abroad — something I actually recommend to anyone reading this. Getting lost out there in your own company can be one of the most powerful experiences of self-knowledge and reflection. That’s how I learned to listen to myself more, to adapt, and to trust that I can find my way anywhere in the world.

5. Art and Perspective

How have these experiences shaped your worldview — and especially, your art?

Since I created my custom clothing shop in 2020, my style has been constantly evolving, and that transformation directly reflects the places I’ve been. Every museum, country, restaurant, and store I visit ends up inspiring me in some way. I also have the habit of photographing everything that catches my eye — a texture, a color combination, a curious object... anything can become a reference.

I feel that, at different stages of my life, I absorb certain influences more than others. For example, last year I visited many museums, including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, where I spent hours observing how he used lines to create shadows. That struck me for some reason, and from that moment on, I began experimenting with that technique in my own paintings.

In Asia, however, I didn’t have enough space in my suitcase to bring my paints and sketchbooks, so I was challenged to explore digital painting instead. I started using Procreate and ended up developing a series of artworks on my iPad that depict the experiences and places I lived while I was there. It became a new artistic language — one directly influenced by the context I was in.

Every culture I encounter expands my creative repertoire and invites me to look at the world, and at myself, in new ways. In the end, everything I live becomes raw material for what I create.

What impact did living in the East have on your aesthetic, your references, and your creative process?

 

Being immersed in such different cultures led me to observe the world with a more attentive eye — one that notices details, symbols, and contrasts. I began painting elements that hadn’t been part of my daily life before: Buddhist traditions and temples, paper lanterns, glowing street signs, and the vibrant foods I found in Taiwan’s night markets — which actually became the theme of some of my favorite works. Those night markets are a visual and sensory universe of their own, and I felt inspired to translate that beautiful, colorful chaos onto the canvas.

While learning Mandarin, I began to explore the language’s characters in my drawings, using writing as a form of visual composition. I also portrayed everyday scenes that left an impression on me: faces and gestures I observed in Singapore, landscapes in Vietnam, and even the animals wandering freely through the streets of Bali.

Living in the East pulled me out of autopilot. It made me pay attention to what is different from everything I had seen before — and all of that started to appear naturally in my art. Today, my creative process is much more open, intuitive, and sensory, precisely because of those experiences.

6. Traditional Business Career vs. Artistic Career

You graduated in Business, but you’re pursuing an artistic career. When did that shift happen in your life? Was it something planned, or more of a reconnection with something that had always been there? 

I’ve never really seen business and art as opposites, but rather as complementary areas within me. I’ve always had a hybrid profile — my father is an entrepreneur, and I grew up in an environment surrounded by management and strategy. At the same time, I come from a very artistic family, with musicians, photographers, and painters. So art has always been part of my life, but I’ve also always understood the importance of knowing how to position yourself, sell your work, and structure your ideas.

I often see amazing artists who struggle to turn their talent into a sustainable career, and that always caught my attention. That’s why I decided to start on the business side — I wanted to understand how the market works, how to communicate a body of work, create a product, and make it reach people with impact. Now that I’ve graduated, I feel more prepared to deepen my artistic path — whether it leans more toward fashion or visual arts. But the shift, in truth, was more of a merging than a change, and I’m now finding ways to bring those two sides together in my work.

7. Travel as a Way of Life

Where does this strong desire to travel come from? Has it always been there, or did it grow over time?

I think the desire to travel has always been within me, but it truly blossomed once the circumstances allowed it. When I lived in Brazil, traveling wasn’t something very accessible — whether because of distance, money, or simply the lack of independence I had back then. But when I moved to Europe, destinations that once seemed like distant dreams were just a few hours away by train or plane. I started exploring all the places I had always been curious about and fell in love with the feeling of facing the new, the unknown, and the unexpected.

Traveling, for me, is one of the things that makes me feel most alive. I love living out of a small suitcase for weeks, discovering corners of the world I never even imagined existed. Recently, I went backpacking for three weeks through the Philippines and Thailand — and even though I went through all kinds of struggles (I was surviving on five euros a day), it was one of the times I felt most like my “best self.” I was tired, sweaty, sometimes lost… but completely happy. Over time, I’ve realized that discovering new cultures and places is what inspires me the most — so whenever I can, I travel (even to the most random destinations).

What has Asia taught you that you still carry with you today — whether in life or in art?

Asia taught me a lot about silence, presence, and reconnection with myself. I went there with the desire to step away from external noise — and especially from internal noise: pressure, comparison, and self-criticism. I wanted to find a routine that truly made me feel good, with more self-care practices like running, meditation, and yoga. And I found not only the physical space for that, but also the mental space.

It was there that I started reflecting more deeply on my mistakes, on how I can be a better person and friend, and even on how to receive criticism more lightly, without so much defensiveness. In the midst of so many different cultures and realities, I realized the value of being open — to people, experiences, opinions, and discomforts. That also ended up being reflected in my art, which became more sensitive, more observant, and at the same time, more detached from perfection.

In the end, what Asia taught me the most was how to seek peace — peace in my choices, in my relationships, and, above all, within myself. And that’s definitely something I carry with me every day.

What was the place that moved you the most emotionally? Why?

Northern Vietnam was one of the most impactful places I’ve ever visited. I did the Ha Giang Loop — a three-day motorcycle route that passes through villages and mountains near the border with China. I spent those days on the back of a motorbike, crossing breathtaking landscapes and meeting people from all over the world. It was an experience completely unlike anything I had ever lived before — with little phone signal, far from big cities, spending entire days surrounded by otherworldly scenery.

And what comes next? What’s the next trip at the top of your bucket list? 

Now I want to explore more of my own continent. So far, I’ve only visited Chile and Argentina — and that was quite a while ago. At the top of my bucket list is a backpacking trip through South America: visiting Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay. I also really want to explore more of Central America and the Caribbean — countries like Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Jamaica. I feel like there’s so much cultural richness, nature, and history close by that I still haven’t discovered.

8. Reflective Closing 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who dreams of living abroad but is still afraid, what would it be?

I think my advice would be: allow yourself to feel fear, but don’t let it paralyze you. Living abroad is a huge challenge, full of uncertainties, but it’s also one of the most transformative experiences you can have. Fear is part of the process, but the freedom, learning, and growth that come afterward are absolutely worth it. Start small, take steps that feel comfortable to you, and remember that making mistakes and adapting are part of the journey.

What does “belonging to a place” mean to you? Do you feel like you belong anywhere?

For me, belonging is much more emotional than geographical. After living in different places, you realize there’s no longer just one place where you feel completely at home. Parts of who you are get scattered around the world — in people, memories, scents, and routines. When I’m in Madrid, I miss Brazil. In Taiwan, I missed Spain. It’s as if I’m always longing for some place or someone.

Today, belonging for me isn’t about being in one specific place — it’s about feeling connected to what I’m living in that moment. Maybe I’ll never belong to just one place again, and that’s okay. I’ve learned to find belonging within myself, wherever I am.