Walking into the art studio at MCDS, you might find students working on anything from traditional oil painting to 3D sculpture to digital media. At the center of this creative hub is Julia Taylor, a teacher who has spent the last 15 years shaping the visual arts program at Madison Country Day School. With more than two decades of experience, she brings perspective and heart to teaching in the Prairie Hawk community. 

“Mrs. Taylor’s classroom is a place to try new ideas and experiment with new techniques,” Marshall ’27 said. 

Teaching is in Taylor’s DNA, as her maternal grandmother and mother are both teachers. Before arriving at MCDS, her journey began at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ukraine and included years of private tutoring. She also worked with a vast range of learners, from first graders to adults. Today, she is managing the visual arts curriculum at MCDS, teaching a variety of different courses.

 “I hope every student takes away that the process of creating and appreciating art encourages introspection, encourages patience, and a lifelong curiosity for learning,” Taylor said. 

Taylor sets up her classroom as a creative place for personal growth. Marshall ’27 agrees that “she has always been eager to help me learn and improve.” Taylor emphasizes that art is not just about the final product, but also about the creative processes students take. “I also value patience and care that is required to explain creative processes step by step, and help students build upon skills and confidence,” she said. 

As the MCDS community has grown more diverse, Taylor has intentionally evolved her teaching style. She has shifted her focus to include student well-being and digital citizenship, helping students navigate the online world. “I have adapted my teaching approach to better meet students where they are and support their growth, both academically and personally,” she noted. 

Outside of the studio, Taylor is a lifelong student of history and culture. She has traveled to 17 countries, seeking out historical sites and world-class art museums. “So far, I have visited about 17 countries, and I hope to plan to extend that number of countries and learn about different cultures around the world,” she explained. When she isn’t planning her next international journey, she enjoys reading non-fiction books about historical events or taking a bike ride. “I do like to ride my bike, but only for leisure, no racing,” she added. 

Taylor describes her professional life as a connected cycle of teaching, preparing, and reviewing. “These parts of the practice are closely connected, and I have those three parts almost every day of my life as a teacher, and it helped me continuously reflect and improve on my teaching as well,” she said. 

Whether she is helping a student refine their artwork or traveling halfway across the world, Taylor remains focused on the long-term impact of the arts. “Art is a lifelong curiosity for learning.”