“Juliana Laury views cemeteries not as spooky or depressing places but as beautiful, life-filled spaces steeped in history and reflection. The series highlights cemeteries as meticulously landscaped areas featuring diverse plant life and Victorian-era tombstones, which Laury finds architecturally fascinating and emotionally moving. She documents her experiences and observations during these walks in encaustic artwork—a technique involving layered hot wax—transforming the feelings and visuals of the cemetery environment into art.

Laury's approach to Cemetery Walks is deeply personal and reflective, often connected to family memories and the cycle of life and death. For example, one of her walks included sharing a quiet, attentive moment with her brother-in-law as he processed a recent loss. The Cemetery Walks serve as a way for Laury to express gratitude and find breath and life amid reminders of mortality. Her work captures both the beauty of these spaces and the emotions tied to them in a contemplative and tangible form.”

— Chatbox