Julia Kozerski American photographer and artist Country: USA

Biography of Julia Kozerski

Julia Kozerski is an American photographer and artist known for her series of nude self-portraits titled "Half," which she created during her struggle with excess weight. She was born in 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and earned a bachelor's degree from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Kozerski explores universal themes such as beauty, body image, and identity in her works, which have been exhibited both in the United States and internationally.

Kozerski gained recognition when her works were featured in the "2012 Photo Annual" project by PDN (Photo District News) magazine. Additionally, her photographs received significant online coverage and were featured on platforms such as Fraction Magazine, Lenscratch, and CNN Photos Blog.

At one point, Kozerski lost half of her body weight within a year, but her real battle came later as she had to come to terms with her new body and accept it. In earlier photographs, she appeared overwhelmed while trying on a wedding dress when she weighed 338 pounds (153 kg). However, she later photographed herself in the same dress, and now it could fit two of her current selves. Instead of telling a traditional "before and after" narrative, Kozerski chose to reveal the truth about what awaits people who have lost excess weight through her self-portraits. This truth included stretch marks, large folds of skin where fat once resided, and blurred contours resembling sandy dunes.

Nudity in photography can often be considered excessive, especially when the subjects are not flawless models but ordinary individuals. However, in today's world, nudity no longer surprises anyone as it is readily available in magazines and on television. Nevertheless, Julia Kozerski manages to be provocative and captivating, standing out from the crowd and inspiring admiration for her ideas and courage.

Currently, Julia resides in Milwaukee, her hometown, and works in marketing. She has a vibrant and enthusiastic personality, with a fresh face and rosy cheeks. She could be the poster child for the Midwest! She maintains her new, healthy weight, which may not be model-like but is entirely sustainable. However, reaching this point required more than just losing weight. It took several years for Kozerski to understand that she had become a new person, to embrace her new self, and to love herself.

Julia did not seek the help of psychologists or hire a personal trainer in her journey. Instead, she went on a diet and walked her dogs extensively, sometimes covering up to 20 miles a day. The only person she could rely on was her husband, Tim, a mechanic who supported her from day one. They have known each other for fifteen years, and interestingly, Tim also appears in some of Julia's series of nude self-portraits.

Growing up, Julia's family did not practice healthy eating habits. Her father worked in sales, and her mother was a librarian and school teacher who often relied on frozen meals to feed their three children. Julia had always been chubby, but it became a real problem as she grew older. In 2011, her mother passed away from diabetes, and her father underwent triple bypass surgery. Both her sisters also struggle with unhealthy weights.

One day, six months after their wedding, Julia and her husband were sitting on the couch, eating cookies when she decided to go to the bathroom and step on the scale. The number she saw - 338 pounds (153 kg) - terrified her. The next day, she found herself searching for information on proper nutrition. Taking small steps, rewarding herself for every 9-11 pounds lost, and documenting her progress through photographs, she learned to listen to her body and understand its needs.

Even after her physical transformation, Julia continued to feel unattractive and unhappy for a long time. However, she discovered that her self-portraits resonated deeply with audiences, generating a tremendous wave of positive interest. Through her experiences, she developed a personal theory of happiness, which involves understanding who you are and ceasing to compare yourself to others.