Julie Püttgen was born in 1972 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and grew up in Fresno and Atlanta. She attended Yale University (BA in Studio Art), Georgia State University (MFA in Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking), and Goddard College (MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling / Expressive Arts Therapy). In the 1990's, she taught in Hong Kong, traveled around Asia, and lived as a nun in Buddhist monasteries for three years. As an artist, Ms. Püttgen works across media (painting, photography, digital animation, artist's books, installation), and also curates exhibitions. She has exhibited widely in museums and galleries across the US & internationally, as well as in more informal community spaces. Her teaching and therapy practices extend from kids to college students to adults to elders, in spaces including psychotherapy practice, Buddhist retreat, school artist-in-residence programs, and retirement communities. Embodied creativity and healing are the central passions of her life.