Julia Szabo
Julia Szabo is an accomplished arts and culture journalist, writer, and advocate whose career spans decades of influential storytelling across media, lifestyle, and the arts. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College with a degree in English, Julia built a distinguished journalism career writing for leading publications including Traditional Home, Dogster, and The Purist, where her work blended cultural insight, style, and a deep appreciation for creative expression. Her writing and editorial expertise also extend to literary consulting, ghostwriting, and biography development, where she is known for uncovering rich historical details and weaving them into compelling narratives.
After a long and fulfilling career in journalism, Julia shifted her focus to a bold and timely mission: founding MSEUM (“The MS”), the world’s first museum built by women, for women artists. As Founding Director, she is channeling her lifelong passion for the arts, advocacy, and equity into creating a permanent cultural institution dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and creative legacies. MSEUM stands as both a celebration and a call to action—honoring women artists, addressing historical erasure, and confronting contemporary issues through art.
Driven by courage, conviction, and compassion, Julia is widely recognized as a tireless champion for causes she believes in, from women in the trades to animal welfare and cultural preservation. Whether through writing, advocacy, or institution-building, her work reflects a singular commitment to using creativity as a force for visibility, justice, and lasting impact.
• Vassar College- B.A.
• The Spence School
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lifelong commitment to telling stories that make people visible, shaped most profoundly by advocating for my mother’s artistic legacy and realizing how many women are overlooked not for lack of talent, but for lack of access. That awakening—combined with decades of experience as a published journalist and author—became the catalyst for building MSEUM and dedicating my work to amplifying women artists and correcting the historical record.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t wait for permission—if the door doesn’t exist, build it yourself, even when it’s hard and underfunded, because that’s how meaningful work actually begins. And if you are carrying someone else’s story, understand that stewardship requires courage and action, but it will give your life a depth of purpose that few things can.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The greatest challenge is securing sustained funding for work that corrects centuries of omission, while the opportunity lies in the growing recognition—across art, equity, and the built environment—that women’s stories deserve permanent, visible space. For me, legacy isn’t abstract; it’s a practical commitment to building something that will endure.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are a relentless work ethic and an absolute faith in creative endeavor, even in the face of financial strain, legal battles, and uncertainty. I believe history does not correct itself—it requires intention, persistence, and collective belief, which is why my work is rooted in ensuring there are no unknown women artists ever again.