You may recognize Julia Brevetti from her viral painting TikToks—particularly her “abstract squares” series, featuring vibrant depictions of characters from Betty Boop to Spiderman. Or, if you’ve already stepped foot in Queen’s Harbour, a massive new “MediterrAsian” restaurant that just opened on Toronto’s waterfront, Brevetti’s bold, animal-themed paintings will have been there to greet you—including an intricate koi series and a powerful, large-scale cheetah piece. 

Since going viral on TikTok last year, Brevetti has continued posting, offering mesmerizing windows into her artistic process and amassing more than 100K followers on the app, leading to a slew of gallery placements, high-profile commissions and collaborations in both in Toronto and the US. Characterized by a blend of pop art and realism, and often infused with nostalgia, her work is vibrant, playful, and emotionally resonant. 

Fresh off her most recent body of work, Skull Collection, as well as the launch of her Queen’s Harbour series, we caught up with Brevetti to hear more about the unique experience of going viral, how she found her artistic style, and the paintings that mean most to her. 

What are some of your earliest memories of art?

I remember being in elementary school and having to do projects for subjects like math, science, and history which I always struggled with. To make them more enjoyable, I’d turn every assignment into an art project. I would focus heavily on the visual presentation, because where I lacked academic knowledge, I made up for it with creativity. Looking back, I think I always knew I’d end up doing something in a creative field.

Your paintings are a blend of pop art and realism—how did you discover this style?

It was definitely a process of trial and error. When I first started, I painted anything and everything. I experimented with a lot of different styles. Some felt right, others didn’t. I was really drawn to pop art because I love bold colours and defined shapes. I don’t like blending shades much, I prefer when things pop.

Realism, on the other hand, allows me to show the technical detail and precision in a piece, so blending the two styles gives me a sense of balance. Right now, that combination feels like “me,” but I know my style will continue to evolve as I grow and go through different experiences in life.

Your collection for Queen’s Harbour includes your largest painting to date! What kind of work goes into creating a piece like that? 

It was both exciting and a little stressful. I had never painted on such a large scale before, so one of the first challenges was figuring out how to build the canvases myself. Once I sorted that out, the rest came together more smoothly.

I actually really enjoy working large-scale. It has a dramatic, impactful presence that smaller pieces just can’t match. At first, I was nervous about whether I’d be able to capture the vision they had in mind. But when I attended the opening and saw the paintings hanging in the space, it was a euphoric moment. All the stress and hard work suddenly felt worth it.

Take us back to the moment you went viral on TikTok! How did that feel for you?

It was such a surreal experience. I used to watch other people go viral and never imagined it could happen to me. I remember posting a video one day while I was at work, and when I checked my phone a few hours later, it had 9,000 views—way more than any of my previous posts. I knew something was different. Every time I checked, the views kept going up—10k, 35k, 80k—it started gaining real momentum.

That moment made me realize I had to go all in. From that day forward, I committed to posting on TikTok every single day. My goal at the time was to hit 20k followers by the end of the year, which felt like a stretch. I ended the year with 50k. It was such a rewarding feeling. 

Do you have any advice for artists who are sharing their work on social media?

I never thought I was capable of building that kind of following, but now I know it’s possible. That’s why my advice to other artists is always: be consistent and don’t give up. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you.

Consistency is everything. I spent a year posting regularly and barely got more than 300 views. But it just takes one video to blow up and change your life. So don’t give up. If you have a goal, and you stay consistent and work hard, it is achievable.

Tell us more about Skull Collection. You say it’s your most personal work yet. What inspired it?

I’ve lived with OCD since I was a kid, often experiencing intrusive thoughts and an overwhelming fear of death—especially when it came to my family. I didn’t really know how to talk about it at the time. In high school, it got worse, and I eventually began therapy. I did Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and exposure therapy, which helped me learn how to manage it.

The skulls in the collection represent that exposure to death that I’ve had to face both in therapy and in my everyday life. Some of the skulls are realistic, while others are more playful and colourful, inspired by pop and street art. The vibrant colours and childlike style are nostalgic, representing both my childhood and the process of accepting that chapter closing. It’s about confronting the fear, and transforming it into something I can understand and express.

Is there a piece you’ve created that will always have a special place in your heart?

Definitely my first car painting. It ended up being shown at the Four Seasons Gallery in California. That piece will always be special to me, not only because it was my first car painting, but also because it was the first time one of my works was displayed in a gallery.

What is something you wish more people knew about being a painter?

It’s a lot more stressful and vulnerable than people might think. You’re putting a piece of yourself into every work you create, and sharing that with the world opens you up to all kinds of interpretation and criticism, especially on social media.

Also, when I started doing this full-time, I realized that being an artist is only 20% painting. The other 80% is business. Marketing, logistics, admin, planning. It’s a lot of work behind the scenes.

What brings you the greatest sense of fulfillment in your work?

When people send me photos of my paintings hanging in their homes. It’s the most incredible feeling. Knowing that something I created with my own hands—an idea that started in my mind—is now part of someone’s everyday life, and that they enjoy and appreciate it… it’s hard to put into words. That’s what makes all the effort worth it.

Keep up with Julia Brevetti on Instagram and TikTok.